Pirates Rally Victorious
Pittsburgh Pirates Overcome Four-Run Deficit, Defeat Athletics 6-5 on Lowe's Go-Ahead Homer
Brandon Lowe hit a go-ahead solo home run in the ninth inning to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Athletics 6-5 in West Sacramento on Tuesday night, according to CBS Sports. The Pirates trailed by four runs after the first inning but clawed all the way back to snap a stretch in which they had lost eight of their last ten games.
Bryan Reynolds was the offensive engine, going 4-for-5 with two home runs, three RBIs, and three runs scored, per The Facts. He homered from both sides of the plate — a rare feat and the ninth multi-homer game of his career. Lowe's decisive blast came off Elvis Alvarado, a 103.7 mph shot that traveled 383 feet to right field.
Reynolds Homers From Both Sides to Force Tie
The Athletics built a 4-0 lead in the first inning, largely thanks to a throwing error by Pirates first baseman Spencer Horwitz that allowed three runs to score, according to Lancaster Online. Lawrence Butler followed with an RBI double to make it a comfortable cushion early.
Reynolds started chipping away in the sixth inning with a solo homer batting right-handed, cutting the deficit to 4-3. After Zack Gelof hit a solo shot to push the lead back to 5-3, Reynolds answered in the seventh — this time batting left-handed — with a two-run homer off reliever Hogan Harris to tie the game at 5-5, per BDT Online.
Lowe Breaks Slump With Ninth-Inning Blast
Brandon Lowe entered the game in a deep slump, going just 1-for-18 in recent outings. With one out in the ninth, he drove an Alvarado pitch 383 feet to right field for the go-ahead run, giving Pittsburgh its first lead of the game, according to The News-Gazette.
Closer Gregory Soto then navigated a shaky bottom of the ninth, allowing two base runners before recording the final out to earn his 11th save of the season. The Pirates improved to 37-37, putting them back at .500 after a tough recent stretch, per Oskaloosa.
Gelof Extends MLB-Best 20-Game Hitting Streak
Despite the loss, Athletics third baseman Zack Gelof was the standout on Sacramento's side. He went 3-for-3 with a solo homer and two RBIs, extending his hitting streak to 20 consecutive games — the longest active streak in Major League Baseball, according to KDH News.
Athletics manager Mark Kotsay praised Gelof's "elite makeup" after the game. The A's fell to 36-37 with the loss. Both clubs remain on the fringe of the AL Wild Card race heading into a rubber-match Wednesday night, per CT Post.
Pirates Playing in Sacramento's Record Summer Heat
The game was played at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, where first-pitch temperature hit 102°F, according to Rutland Herald. The Athletics are using the stadium as a temporary home during a three-year transition period that runs through 2027 before a planned move to Las Vegas.
Starter Mitch Keller gave up five runs — four earned — in 5⅓ innings but did not take the loss. The Pirates bullpen remains a concern going forward. Pittsburgh will send Braxton Ashcraft (5-3, 3.30 ERA) to the mound Wednesday against Aaron Civale (5-2, 4.20 ERA) for the Athletics, per The New Enterprise.
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