O'Hearn's Historic Night
Ryan O'Hearn Sets Pirates Franchise Record with 10 RBIs as Skenes Secures Win
Ryan O'Hearn hit three home runs and drove in 10 runs on Tuesday night, setting a Pittsburgh Pirates franchise record in a 12-4 win over the Atlanta Braves, according to Yahoo Sports. The performance broke a record that had stood for 87 years, surpassing Johnny Rizzo's previous single-game RBI mark.
The big night also gave ace Paul Skenes his first win in nearly two months, according to CBS Sports. The Pirates have now won three straight games and nine consecutive matchups against Atlanta.
O'Hearn Shatters an 87-Year-Old Franchise Record
O'Hearn wasted no time making history. Gwinnett Daily Post reported he blasted his third career grand slam as part of the record-setting night. He finished with three home runs in all, giving Pittsburgh a dominant offensive performance it had never seen before in franchise history.
The previous record of 9 RBIs was set by Johnny Rizzo in 1938. O'Hearn topped it by one, finishing with 10. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette noted that O'Hearn even took a curtain call after the crowd recognized what they had just witnessed.
Skenes Finally Snaps a Months-Long Losing Streak
Paul Skenes had been one of baseball's most-watched pitchers heading into the season. But he had not picked up a win in nearly two months. Tuesday changed that. With a 12-run cushion, Skenes was able to settle in and deliver for Pittsburgh, according to Newsday.
CBS Sports noted the win also snapped a nine-game losing streak in games Skenes had started against Atlanta. That streak had been a rare blemish on an otherwise bright young career. The 12-4 final score gave Skenes plenty of breathing room.
Griffin Hurt as Pirates Lean on O'Hearn's Heroics
The win came on a difficult day for Pittsburgh. Star rookie Konnor Griffin left the game with a left-hand injury, according to Leader Telegram. The severity of the injury was not immediately clear, but losing Griffin was a blow to a Pirates team still building for the future.
O'Hearn's performance softened that blow. The first baseman recently signed a multiyear deal to stay in Pittsburgh, according to Yahoo Sports. Tuesday showed exactly why the Pirates wanted to keep him. His three-homer, 10-RBI night gave the club its biggest offensive game in decades.
Pirates Riding Momentum Into Wednesday's Rematch
Pittsburgh has now won nine straight games against Atlanta. That run started under rough circumstances — including some of those Skenes losses — but the Pirates have found a groove. Three straight wins heading into Wednesday gives the club real confidence, according to Winnipeg Free Press.
The two teams meet again on Wednesday to continue the series. Pittsburgh will look to carry O'Hearn's momentum forward. Atlanta, meanwhile, will need to regroup after giving up 12 runs and watching history get made against them.
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