Pirates continue hot start with sweep of Orioles
AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn burned his former team while keeping the Pittsburgh Pirates’ hot start to the season.
O’Hearn homered and matched a career high with four RBIs as the Pirates beat the Baltimore Orioles 8-2 on Sunday to sweep a three-game series and extend their winning streak to five.
O’Hearn played for the the Orioles in 2023 and 2024 and split time in Baltimore and San Diego last year after the Padres traded for the first baseman/outfield in July. He signed with Pittsburgh as a free agent in January.
The Pirates, who began a three-game series with the San Diego Padres at PNC Park on Monday, ended Sunday tied for second place in the National League Central Division with the Cincinnati Reds with a 6-3 record, one game in back of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers.
O’Hearn hit a two-run shot to right-center in the first inning. In the second, his two-run double highlighted a four-run outburst as the Pirates pushed their lead to 6-0.
Oneil Cruz made it 8-1 with a two-run homer to center field in the sixth. He also singled home a run in the second.
Cruz’s homer came off left-hander Cade Povich. The center fielder is 7 for 10 with three homers against lefties after going 11 for 108 with one homer last season. His four home runs put him in a three-way tie for the NL lead going into Monday.
That was plenty of support for Braxton Ashcraft (1-1), who allowed one run and four hits in six innings. He had a career-high eight strikeouts and no walks.
Pirates starters have given up two earned runs or fewer in each of their eight games since 2025 NL Cy Young Award winner Paul Skenes was tagged for five runs while only getting two outs against the New York Mets on opening day.
Orioles starter Chris Bassitt (0-2) was roughed up for six runs in two innings. Signed to an $18.5 million, one-year contract as a free agent just before spring training, the right-hander has given up 10 runs over 6 1/3 innings in two starts.
Pete Alonso had an RBI double and Taylor Ward got three hits for the Orioles, who lost for the fifth time in six games.