04/22/26 10:05:00
Printable Page
04/22 22:04 CDT Oneil Cruz's 3-run homer off top of foul pole powers Pirates to
8-4 win over Rangers
Oneil Cruz's 3-run homer off top of foul pole powers Pirates to 8-4 win over
Rangers
ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) --- Oneil Cruz had the hardest-hit homer in the majors
this season, a three-run shot off the top of the right-field foul pole in the
ninth inning that powered the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 win over the Texas
Rangers on Wednesday night.
The Pirates took a 5-4 lead in the ninth when Nick Gonzales broke for the plate
on pinch-hitter Jake Mangum's one-out chopper to third base off Cole Winn
(1-1). Josh Jung's throw home pulled catcher Kyle Higashioka into foul
territory, and Higashioka could not make the tag.
Cruz followed with his 116.9 mph liner that bounced off the top of the foul
pole and into the stands. It was the second hardest-hit ball in the history of
Globe Life Field, which opened in 2020.
Pittsburgh's big ninth gave Gregory Soto (1-0) his first win as a Pirate,
following his first blown save. The lefty reliever allowed Jake Burger's
two-run single in the eighth that tied the score at 4-all. Dennis Santana
pitched a perfect ninth for his third save in four opportunities.
Bryan Reynolds' fifth-inning single, which produced his 500th career RBI, was
part of a three-run frame that gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead. Reynolds is tied
with Bobby Bonilla for the most RBIs by a Pirates switch-hitter. He also scored
Pittsburgh's first run on Marcell Ozuna's first-inning double.
Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft set career highs with seven innings and 94
pitches, allowing Jung's two-run homer in the second inning among four hits.
Ashcraft grew up about 100 miles south of Globe Life Field near Waco and had a
personal cheering section of about 200 people.
Jung has an RBI in a career-best six consecutive games.
Texas starter Jack Leiter, who turned 26 on Tuesday, allowed four runs, three
earned, in five innings. He hasn't won since his first start this season, at
Baltimore on March 30.
With a single and a walk, Pittsburgh's Ryan O'Hearn has reached base in 20 of
22 games.
Up next
Rangers RHP Jacob deGrom (1-0, 2.29 ERA) will pitch on five days' rest in
Wednesday night's series finale against Pirates rookie RHP Bubba Chandler (1-1,
3.15).
___
AP MLB: https://apnews.com/mlb
|
