Andrew Heaney, Pirates fire two-hitter against Angels

Andrew Heaney threw six scoreless innings and Oneil Cruz hit one of the longest home runs in the majors this season, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-0 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Wednesday in Anaheim, Calif.

Heaney, who pitched for the Angels from 2015-21, allowed only one hit -- Travis d'Arnaud's double with one out in the fifth inning. Heaney struck out nine, including the first six batters of the game, and didn't issue a walk.

Cruz got ahold of an 88 mph slider from Angels starter Jack Kochanowicz with one out in the fifth inning, and the 117 mph blast flew 463 feet -- the fourth-longest homer in the majors this year. The solo shot put Pittsburgh up 2-0.

Kochanowicz (1-3) did not pitch poorly, allowing two runs and eight hits in six innings, striking out three and walking one. However, it was not good enough on a night when Heaney cruised through the Los Angeles lineup.

Heaney (2-1) retired the first 13 Angels hitters before d'Arnaud hooked a ball into the left field corner. Nolan Schanuel then reached base on an error by Pirates shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa to give Los Angeles two baserunners, but Heaney escaped when Luis Rengifo lined out and Kyren Paris struck out.

Three Pirates relievers combined for three scoreless innings, one night after the bullpen threw five scoreless innings en route to a 9-3 win in the series opener. David Bednar (seventh inning), Caleb Ferguson (eighth) and David Santana (ninth inning, third save) allowed just one baserunner -- Jorge Soler's ninth-inning double -- to complete a two-hit shutout.

The Pirates pushed across their first run in the third inning when Kiner-Falefa singled, went to third on a single by Cruz and scored on a sacrifice fly by Bryan Reynolds.

In the ninth, Adam Frazier walked, stole second and came home on a single by Tommy Pham.

Pittsburgh will pursue a three-game series sweep on Thursday.

--Field Level Media