Massive bullpen collapse costs Pirates in loss to Astros

Matt Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 4, 2026

Published in Baseball

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HOUSTON — The Pirates were 28-3 when leading after seven innings. They — along with likely most others watching — expected that first number to become 29 when they led the Astros 8-3 after the seventh Wednesday night.

Then, a complete, and total collapse ensued.

Mason Montgomery and Gregory Soto allowed a combined six runs with two outs in the eighth inning, and a two-run triple from Cam Smith sealed the Astros’ comeback. The Pirates — who were aiming for their fifth straight win — lost, 11-9.

Paul Skenes had a forgettable start, giving up seven hits and three runs in 4 2/3 innings, but the Pirates scored four runs off Spencer Arrighetti, the Astros righty and reigning American League Pitcher of the Month.

Yordan Alvarez opened the scoring with an RBI single in the bottom of the third, and the Astros made it 2-0 after Nick Gonzales failed to corral an Isaac Paredes grounder at third base.

The following inning, the Pirates responded — and it arrived from a somewhat unlikely source. After Jared Triolo drew a walk to load the bases, Davis, the ninth hitter in the lineup, worked a 3-1 count before crushing a high fastball into left field for a grand slam.

The Astros frequently worked Skenes into lengthy at-bats, and with two outs and runners on first and second in the fifth, Smith lined an opposite field RBI single to chase Skenes out of the game.

Skenes threw a career-high 109 pitches, and his 4 2/3 innings were his fewest since April 18.

The Pirates gained a 5-3 lead in the sixth when Jared Triolo slapped a single into right field to drive home Oneil Cruz, and Gonzales added two more runs in the seventh when he hit his second home run in his last three games.

Jhostynxon Garcia was the fourth different Pirate to tally an RBI when he scored Cruz on a double.

Yohan Ramirez — who threw 2 1/3 innings in relief of Skenes — gave up a two-run homer to Paredes in the bottom of the seventh, but Gonzales added an RBI double the following inning.

Still, the offensive explosion wasn’t enough as the bullpen fell apart in the eighth inning.

It was over when …

Smith laced a two-run triple to right field to put the Astros ahead, 11-9.

On the mound

Exactly one year ago, Skenes threw eight innings of one-run ball against the Astros at PNC Park. The Pirates were shut out, and Skenes took the loss.

This time around was a bit different. One swing from Davis gave the Pirates a two-run lead in the fourth, but Skenes didn’t have his best stuff. Gonzales likely should have saved Skenes from a run (and perhaps two), but the Astros were consistently making hard contact and extending at-bats.

Skenes notched consecutive starts of eight scoreless innings early last month, but in his last four starts has allowed 13 earned runs in 20 innings.

After Ramirez covered two innings, the collapse ensued. Montgomery and Soto gave up six combined runs with two outs in one of the worst losses for the Pirates this season.

At the plate

The Pirates’ power surge continues. They’ve now homered in 10 straight games and have 22 in that span. Spencer Horwitz matched a season-high in hits, going 3 for 5, Cruz went 2 for 3 while drawing two walks and stealing a base and Gonzales went 2 for 5 with three RBIs.

Six other Pirates tallied a hit, as well.

Bucs bites

— The Pirates gave up 14 hits, and five different Astros tallied multiple hits.

— Marcell Ozuna was in the lineup for the first time since May 27, batting sixth. He went 1 for 2 with a single and was replaced by Ryan O’Hearn, who pinch hit in the seventh inning.

— The Pirates scored nine runs for the fourth consecutive game, a streak they haven’t matched since Aug. 1928.

Up next

The Pirates will hope to rebound from a gutting loss at 7:10 p.m. Thursday. Jared Jones (0-0, 10.38) will make his second start of the season after returning from the 60-day injured list, and Kai-Wei Teng (3-3, 2.57) will get the ball for the Astros.