Josh Lowe Blasts 26th Homer for Pirates, Breaks Angels Drought Amid Rising Playing Time

During the Angels' drought stretch, many of Josh Lowe's plate appearances came as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement, yet he has started the Angels' last three games, signaling rising trust from the club.
Lowe delivered a three-run homer for the Pirates in the fifth inning against the Red Sox, a hit that helped spark a Pirates win and marked his 26th homer of the season.
With increased playing time, Lowe is on pace to post his highest plate appearances since 2021, contributing to higher counting stats this season.
Brandon Lowe hit his 26th home run of the season on Friday, belting a three-run shot in the fifth inning to spark a Pittsburgh Pirates win over the Boston Red Sox, according to CBS Sports. Lowe went 1-for-4 on the night, but that one hit did serious damage, giving the Pirates a lead they would not let go.
The blast is part of a strong power surge for Lowe this season. He now has three home runs across his last eight starts, putting him on pace for one of his most productive offensive campaigns in recent years.
The Pirates needed a spark against the Red Sox, and Lowe delivered one. His three-run homer in the fifth inning swung momentum firmly in Pittsburgh's favor, according to CBS Sports. It was the kind of swing-changing hit that shifts a game in a single at-bat.
The homer was Lowe's 26th of the season. That puts him among the more productive power hitters in the league this year. Three home runs across eight starts shows he is not running hot in one brief stretch — he is doing it consistently.
Lowe is getting to the plate more often in 2025. With more plate appearances, his counting stats — totals like home runs and RBI — are naturally climbing. He is on pace to reach his highest plate appearance total since 2021, which means more chances to do damage.
His overall rate stats — the numbers that measure how well he hits per at-bat — look similar to past seasons. The big difference is opportunity. More playing time means more home runs, more RBI, and a bigger footprint on the season.
While Brandon Lowe thrived for Pittsburgh, there is another Josh Lowe making noise in a different uniform. The Angels' Josh Lowe ended an 18-game stretch without a home run on Friday night, hitting a solo shot in the sixth inning against the Kansas City Royals, per CBS Sports. The blast briefly gave Los Angeles a 6-5 lead.
MLB captured a field-view video of the homer, showing just how well Lowe squared it up. The Angels ultimately lost the game, but the homer was a positive sign. Lowe had spent stretches of the season coming off the bench as a pinch hitter or defensive replacement. Now he has started three games in a row, a sign the club is giving him a bigger role.
Friday was a notable night for players named Lowe. Brandon Lowe drove in multiple runs and helped Pittsburgh win. Josh Lowe broke a long drought and showed the Angels he can still impact a game with one swing. Both moments came on the same night, an odd but fitting coincidence.
For Brandon Lowe, the story is one of sustained power and growing opportunity. For Josh Lowe, it is about fighting for playing time and proving his worth. Both players gave their teams something to build on heading into the weekend.
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