Pirates score 8 runs on homers in series-opening win against Astros

Matt Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 2, 2026

Published in Baseball

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HOUSTON — Oneil Cruz paused for a moment of admiration. Across from him on the mound, Mike Burrows shook his head in frustration.

Both knew the outcome the moment the ball cracked off the bat. Cruz walloped a go-ahead, three-run homer 419 feet to center field in the top of the sixth inning Tuesday night as the Pirates beat the Astros, 10-6, at Daikin Park. Endy Rodriguez and Brandon Lowe also homered in the win.

Bubba Chandler tossed five innings and gave up five hits and four runs (three earned) while Burrows — the former Pirate who was part of a three-team trade that sent Lowe, Jake Mangum and Mason Montgomery to Pittsburgh — walked five and gave up eight hits and five earned runs.

It only took the Astros two pitches to tag Chandler. Jeremy Peña led off the bottom of the first with a single, and Yordan Alvarez — who has the second-most home runs in MLB behind the Philadelphia Phillies’ Kyle Schwarber — followed by smacking a fastball low in the zone to left field for a two-run shot.

The Pirates countered with a two-run homer of their own in the second when Rodriguez went yard for the first time this season, as well as the first time since Sept. 22, 2023.

Christian Walker put the Astros ahead, 3-2, with an RBI single in the third inning, but Chandler eventually stranded runners on second and third to limit the damage. Chandler allowed another run in the fourth, and while his command was shaky throughout, he held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position.

After Ryan O’Hearn led off the sixth with a walk and Nick Gonzales followed with a single, Cruz hammered a three-run homer to give the Pirates a 5-4 lead. Burrows was yanked, but Mangum kept the line moving with a bunt single to help drive in a run.

The Pirates scored four more runs between the eighth and ninth, with three coming from a Lowe home run and the other from a Rodriguez RBI double.

It was over when …

Lowe hit a three-run homer off the right-field foul pole to put the Pirates ahead, 9-4, in the eighth.

On the mound

The roller-coaster ride of Chandler continues.

Alvarez is as tough an at-bat as any in baseball, but falling into a 2-0 hole on the second pitch of the game certainly wasn’t ideal. There were times when Chandler showcased electric stuff and then times, like in the third inning, when he threw seven straight balls before surrendering an RBI single.

Still, he threw 91 pitches and grinded out five innings before the Pirates gained the lead with Cruz’s homer.

Wilber Dotel was excellent in relief, covering three innings without giving up a hit. He issued two walks but struck out three and lowered his ERA to 1.08. Dennis Santana struggled in the ninth, giving up two runs before getting pulled with one out, but Gregory Soto retired the first two batters he faced to seal the win.

At the plate

The Pirates drew eight walks, hit three home runs and combined for 13 hits. They’re now averaging 8.5 runs across the last four games. Mangum went 4 for 5, tying a career high for hits in a game. Gonzales went 3 for 4 and Cruz and Rodriguez had two hits — including a home run — apiece.

Bucs bites

Cruz has three homers in his last four games. He hit a career-high 21 in 2024, and he’s on pace for roughly 36 this year.

It’s a small sample size, but Mangum is 8 for 12 in his last three games. He’s also batting .363 since May 20.

Chandler’s walks (38) are tied for the most in MLB. Additionally, his 4.89 ERA is the fifth highest in the majors.

Up next

Paul Skenes (6-5, 2.89) has given up a combined 10 runs and hasn’t gone further than 5 1/3 innings in his last three starts, but he’ll look to get back to his usual self when he takes the mound at 8:10 p.m. Wednesday night. Spencer Arrighetti (7-1, 1.34) will pitch for the Astros.