The Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a three-game series sweep by the Chicago Cubs following an 8-7 victory Sunday at PNC Park. Ryan O’Hearn broke out of a post All-Star game slump with a Grand Slam in the third inning. It was his 17th home run of the season. The Pirates hit three home runs off Jameson Taillon. Esmerlyn Valdez hit his 14th of the year in the second inning. Catcher Shawn Ross, playing in his first major league game, hit a home run, also in the second inning.
Starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft struggled through six innings, allowing four earned runs on seven hits. He walked two and struck out five. Ashcraft’s ERA has climbed to 4.05 this season. Mason Montgomery earned his second save of the season, but not before allowing two runs in the ninth inning.
The Pirates open a three-game series with the Arizona Diamondbacks tonight at 6:40pm. Pre-game on WISR begins at 6:15pm. Mitch Keller will start for the Bucs. He is 6-7 with a 4.90 ERA this season. He will be opposed by Merrill Kelly, who is 8-8 with a 5.12 ERA for Arizona.
The Diamondbacks lead the Pirates by one game for the final National League Wild Card spot. Currently, the Washington Nationals are tied with the Pirates at one game back. St. Louis is 1-1/2 games behind. The San Diego Padres have won three games in a row to move within two games of Arizona. The Miami Marlins have now lost 12 games in a row to fall to three games back.