Pirates use the long ball to take down Reds

Field Level Media|published: Tue 31st March, 21:57 2026

Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O'Hearn (29) celebrates with teammates in the dugout after hitting a homer in the second inning of a MLB game between the Cincinnati Reds and Pittsburgh Pirates, Tuesday, March 31, 2026, at Great American Ball Park in downtown Cincinnati.

Oneil Cruz hit a pair of home runs and Ryan O'Hearn and Bryan Reynolds hit back-to-back home runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates' offense broke out during an 8-3 win over the host Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

O'Hearn and Reynolds' successive homers highlighted a five-run second inning, which helped the Pirates even up their three-game set with the Reds, who had a three-game winning streak snapped.

Cruz smacked a towering 444-foot blast in the fourth inning, and later added a two-run homer in the ninth to pad Pittsburgh's lead after Cincinnati cut it to 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth.

Cruz's two homers, which were both to right-center field, were his first two of the season and marked the third multi-homer game of his career.

Cruz finished with three hits and three RBIs. Reds starter Brandon Williamson (0-1) surrendered Cruz's first homer, as well as O'Hearn's three-run shot and Reynolds' solo blast.

Williamson, who made his first start since September 2024 after undergoing Tommy John surgery, gave up six runs on six hits and two walks, and struck out three over 4 2/3 innings.

The Pirates' pitching was stellar, allowing only one run on one hit through the first seven innings.

Rookie Bubba Chandler didn't allow a hit, but struggled with his command, issuing six walks. Chandler struck out six, but lasted only 4 1/3 innings. Yohan Ramirez (1-0) and Hunter Barco kept the Reds' bats in check until the eighth.

Elly De La Cruz lifted a ball just inside the right field line for a solo homer. Sal Stewart continued his torrid start by going back-to-back with De La Cruz and hitting his second homer of the season off Barco.

Things could have unraveled for the Pirates on the next at-bat after Eugenio Suarez was ruled to have checked his swing following an appeal to first. Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly argued the call and was ejected. Suarez singled and, after Pirates closer Dennis Santana entered the game, Dane Myers followed with another single.

Santana and the Pirates worked out of trouble, though. After Noelvi Marte popped out, Brandon Lowe made a great defensive play with a diving catch on a lineout by Nathaniel Lowe and doubled up Myers at first.

--Field Level Media