Esmerlyn Valdez homers for first MLB hit, helping Pirates top Jays

Field Level Media|published: Sun 24th May, 15:38 2026

May 24, 2026; Toronto, Ontario, CAN; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Esmerlyn Valdez (55) celebrates hitting a two run home run against the Toronto Blue Jays during the sixthinning at Rogers Centre. Mandatory Credit: Nick Turchiaro-Imagn Images

Esmerlyn Valdez stroked a two-run homer for his first career major league hit Sunday afternoon and the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Toronto Blue Jays 4-1.

Pittsburgh right-hander Mitch Keller (5-2) pitched a solid six innings, allowing one run, four hits and three walks with five strikeouts.

Gregory Soto worked around a hit batter and a walk in the ninth to earn his fifth save.

Spencer Horwitz and Oneil Cruz added solo home runs for the Pirates, who salvaged the finale of the three-game series and snapped Toronto's four-game winning streak.

Pittsburgh has won three of nine.

Horwitz, a former Blue Jay, homered to right on the first pitch of the game from Dylan Cease (3-3). Cruz led off the second with a home run to right on an 0-1 slider.

Toronto scored once against Keller in the fourth. Vladimir Guerrero Jr. walked and Yohendrick Pinango singled. Ernie Clement extended his hit streak to seven games when he grounded a two-out, RBI single to left.

Cease left the game with what the team said was mild left hamstring discomfort with two outs in the fifth and a 2-0 count on Brandon Lowe. Mason Fluharty took over and gave up a single and a walk before getting out of the inning.

Cease allowed two runs, four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts in 4 2/3 innings.

Guerrero left the game with two outs and one on in the home fifth when a pitch from Keller hit him on the right elbow. Guerrero walked immediately to the dugout and Lenyn Sosa ran for him. The team said Guerrero had a right elbow contusion and X-rays were negative.

Pittsburgh added two runs in the sixth against Chase Lee. Endy Rodriguez walked and Valdez homered to right on an 0-1 sweeper.

Yohan Ramirez replaced Keller in the seventh and allowed a double and a walk in one-third of an inning. Mason Montgomery replaced Ramirez and retired the next five Toronto batters, including two strikeouts.

Toronto's Yariel Rodriguez pitched around a hit batter, stolen base and a wild pitch in the ninth.

--Field Level Media

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