05/14/26 02:22:00
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05/14 14:20 CDT Endy Rodriguez drives in a pair of runs in his return to the
majors, Pirates top Rockies 7-2
Endy Rodriguez drives in a pair of runs in his return to the majors, Pirates
top Rockies 7-2
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Endy Rodriguez had two hits and drove in a pair of runs in
his return to the majors and the Pittsburgh Pirates breezed past the Colorado
Rockies 7-2 on Thursday.
Rodriguez, a catcher once considered among the top prospects in Pittsburgh's
farm system before missing all of 2024 and most of 2025 due to a pair of elbow
injuries, doubled off Chase Dollander (3-3) in the second and added a two-run
single in the third in his first big league appearance since June 6, 2025.
Ryan O'Hearn had three hits for Pittsburgh, including a two-run homer in the
first as the Pirates raced to an early lead and cruised. Rookie shortstop
Konnor Griffin and Jared Triolo added two hits each as Pittsburgh began a
six-game homestand by taking two of three from the Rockies.
Carmen Mlodzinski (3-3) allowed two runs in five innings after coming on after
left-handed relievers Mason Montgomery and Evan Sisk. Pittsburgh manager Don
Kelly opted to use Montgomery and Sisk early to offset the lefty-heavy portion
of Colorado's lineup. The right-handed Mlodzinski has struggled at times this
year against lefties, but by the time he came on in the third, he'd been staked
to a comfortable 6-0 lead.
Dollander, a first-round pick by the Rockies in 2023 who has been solid early
in the season, struggled in the first and was removed just two batters into the
second with what the club described as right arm tightness.
Troy Johnston hit a two-run double for Colorado, but the Rockies lost for the
sixth time in their last seven games at PNC Park after the Pirates took quick
command.
Pittsburgh's Oneil Cruz started with a double to left that Rockies left fielder
Jordan Beck appeared to lose in the lights. The ball fell for a hit, Cruz
jogged to second, then scored on an RBI single by Bryan Reynolds. O'Hearn
followed with his eighth homer of the season, and the rout was on.
Up next
Rockies: return home for a three-game set against Arizona beginning Friday.
Pirates: host cross-state rival Philadelphia for a three-game series starting
Friday.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/MLB
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