Pirates bats stay hot, take down Phillies in series opener

Field Level Media|published: Mon 29th June, 22:17 2026

Jun 29, 2026; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft (35) throws a pitch during the first inning against the Philadelphia Phillies at Citizens Bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images

Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez homered for the fourth straight game and Endy Rodriguez hit a late three-run shot as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates topped the Philadelphia Phillies 11-7 in Monday's opener of a four-game set.

Playing in just his 16th MLB game, Valdez continued his hot stretch in support of Braxton Ashcraft (8-3), who settled down after a rough start to allow five runs and five hits in six innings. Jared Triolo also homered as Pittsburgh rallied from a 5-0 deficit in the opener of a seven-game road trip.

Brandon Marsh hit two home runs for the Phillies, while Bryce Harper and Trea Turner also went deep. Philadelphia starter Aaron Nola (3-5) gave up eight runs and eight hits in 4 1/3 innings while allowing two home runs for the fourth straight outing.

The Phillies jumped out to a 2-0 lead on first-inning homers by Turner and Marsh. Harper's two-run blast highlighted a three-run third as the hosts extended their lead to 5-0.

Nola had no major issues in the first three innings, but his good fortune didn't last. The veteran right-hander allowed a two-run homer to Valdez in the fourth inning -- the rookie's sixth of the season -- before things completely unraveled in the fifth.

Triolo opened that frame with a home run and the next two batters reached against Nola before Brandon Lowe's sacrifice fly pulled the visitors within 5-4. Shortly thereafter, Ryan O'Hearn's single tied the game.

Nola exited with one out and the bases loaded before Seth Johnson came on and allowed three more runs, including two that scored on an errant throw by Turner.

Ashcraft allowed only a two-out walk in the fifth and then pitched a 1-2-3 sixth, ending his night after 97 pitches.

Pirates reliever Evan Sisk survived the seventh despite putting two runners in scoring position.

Gregory Soto yielded two runs in the eighth, including Marsh's second homer of the game, before Yohan Ramirez struck out Justin Crawford with the tying and go-ahead runs on base.

Rodriguez's blast off Chase Shugart with two outs in the ninth gave Pittsburgh some breathing room before Mason Montgomery slammed the door in the final frame.

--Field Level Media

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