Game Log: June 24, 2026 vs Mariners

The Pirates got right, running Seattle out of PNC 11-1 to even the series and climb back to 40-40. The starting pitching was there and the offense got it done.

Braxton Ashcraft was the story on the mound. He went six and gave up one run on five hits, walked nobody, and struck out 10. The only blemish was a Julio Rodríguez single in the first that brought Crawford home, and after that he was in complete control. Then Mlodzinski came on for the final three and shut the door for his second save, three scoreless with three strikeouts of his own. That is exactly the kind of night you want out of those two.

The offense broke it open in the fourth. Ryan O’Hearn started it with a ground-rule double, then Endy Rodríguez doubled home O’Hearn and Nick Gonzales to put the Pirates ahead 2-1. Tyler Callihan followed with an RBI triple, and Jake Mangum singled him in to make it 4-1. Five runs came across in that inning and they never looked back.

They kept adding on, four more in the seventh and two in the eighth. The whole lineup was in on it, going nine-for-14 with runners in scoring position. O’Hearn had a big night, four-for-five with three doubles and three RBI. Endy Rodríguez drove in three as well, and Bryan Reynolds and Esmerlyn Valdez both chipped in. Fifteen hits, no errors, and a comfortable win from start to finish.

Nights like this are why I think the season is heading somewhere. When the starting pitching is on and the bats show up, this team can beat anybody. On to the rubber match tomorrow.