A Strong Start for the Pirates Offense
We were off to a rocky start, with no runs through the first three innings, but that all changed in the 4th inning. The game began with some nail-biting moments, but our boys showed resilience and started cracking the code to the Rangers’ defense. In the bottom of the 4th, a single from Joey Bart and subsequent hits by Spencer Horwitz and Ke'Bryan Hayes brought Bart home, putting the Pirates on the board. Tommy Pham then hit a sacrifice fly to bring us to a tie!
Dominant Fifth Inning Powers the Pirates
The fifth inning became a showcase for our batting order! Oneil Cruz and Bryan Reynolds ignited the momentum, setting the stage for Nick Gonzales to drive Cruz home with a solid single. Then Spencer Horwitz went for more with a double, sending both Bart and Reynolds to the plate.
The Rangers just couldn't tame Hayes and Pham, who continued to sizzle with fantastic hits, piling up the score to 7-2 before the dust settled. 
Closing Out with Style
The energy was electric as Tommy Pham once again dominated in the 7th inning with a double that scored Horwitz, and an extra insurance run! The Rangers tried to bounce back, but the Pirates' pitching lineup wouldn't budge. Colin Ferguson, Carlos Santana, and finally David Bednar were untouchable in closing this game. The Rangers went down swinging consecutively in the final innings, solidifying our 8-3 victory.
Overall, it was a fantastic game for our Buccos! Their grit and teamwork shone through, setting up what promises to be an exciting rest of the season. Let's celebrate this wonderful victory, Pirates fans!
Scoreboard for Rangers @ Pirates (June 22nd, 2025)
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 15 | 0 |
| 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 0 |