Braxton Ashcraft leads Pirates to shutout, completing sweep of Reds

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on May 3, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — Saturday’s Pittsburgh Pirates-Cincinnati Reds game featured 24 combined runs, 30 hits and 13 walks. On Sunday afternoon, those same two teams managed four total hits in the first seven innings and didn’t score a run until the eighth.

What a difference a day makes.

But the result in the standings was the same. The Pirates defeated the Reds, 1-0, on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park behind 7 2/3 shutout innings from Braxton Ashcraft and Oneil Cruz’s game-winning single.

With the win, the Pirates responded to being swept by the St. Louis Cardinals with a three-game sweep of the Reds. What a difference a few days made.

For seven innings, Ashcraft and 23-year-old Reds starter Chase Burns matched zeroes. After allowing a leadoff infield single to Cruz, Burns retired 16 Pirates in a row. Ashcraft retired 16 of the first 18 he faced, not allowing a hit until the fourth.

In total, Ashcraft allowed four hits and two walks, striking out six. He needed just 82 pitches. Burns was equally impressive, allowing three hits and a walk with seven strikeouts in seven innings.

The Reds had their first chance of the game in the eighth. Ashcraft, pitching in the eighth inning for the first time as a starter, allowed a Spencer Steer single and a soft Jose Trevino double to put him in a second-and-third, one out jam. Matt McLain grounded to third baseman Nick Gonzales and Speer broke for home, but Gonzales threw him out easily at the plate.

Don Kelly turned to Gregory Soto against left-handed leadoff hitter TJ Friedl, and Soto struck him out to end the threat.

The Pirates capitalized on their first, and really only, opportunity. With two outs in the eighth, Konnor Griffin doubled off the top of the center field wall against Reds reliever Tony Santillan, missing a homer by feet. After Jake Mangum’s pinch-hit walk, Cruz singled to center and Griffin’s headfirst slide barely beat Friedl’s throw home.

It was over when …

… Soto completed a 1-2-3 ninth. While Dennis Santana was warm, Kelly stuck with Soto against the switch-hitting Elly De La Cruz and right-handed Sal Stewart. Soto struck out pinch-hitter Dane Myers, got De La Cruz to ground out to Henry Davis, then Stewart flew out to the left field warning track to clinch it.

On the mound

It’s the Pirates’ fourth shutout victory of the season. After a rare bad outing Tuesday, Ashcraft performed like the pitcher he’s been all season and cruised against the Reds. Thirty-six of his 82 pitches (44%) were curveballs, while 28 more (34%) were four-seamers.

At the plate

The Pirates picked a good time for a three-hit inning, saving their offense for the eighth. It wasn’t the most explosive game for their bats, but with Ashcraft pitching the way he did, it was more than enough for the win.

Most valuable player

Ashcraft. Even with runners on, he left to a standing ovation.

Up next

The Pirates are off on Monday before a six-game road trip against the National League West. They’ll start with a three-game series against the Diamondbacks in Arizona, followed by a three-game weekend set against the San Francisco Giants.

The Arizona series will begin at 9:40 p.m. ET Tuesday, with Bubba Chandler (1-3, 4.97 ERA) starting for Pittsburgh and lefty Eduardo Rodriguez (2-0, 3.03) on the bump for the Diamondbacks.

____