Pirates explode for 14 runs, soar into All-Star break with sweep of Brewers

Matt Press, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jul 12, 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 — There came a point when the Pittsburgh Pirates’ bullpen and dugout and many of the 34,087 fans at PNC Park couldn’t take a break from hoisting their celebratory orange traffic cones.

The Pirates scored 10 runs in the fourth inning against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday afternoon — tied for their most in a single inning this season — and routed the National League Central leaders, 14-5, in the final series before the All-Star break.

Paul Skenes was perfect through his first three innings and ultimately gave up three hits and two runs while striking out seven across 5 1/3 frames. The Pirates avoided facing NL Cy Young frontrunner Jacob Misiorowski, who was scratched from his scheduled start because of arm fatigue.

And boy, did the Pirates tee off on his replacement.

Robert Gasser (2-4, 5.24 ERA) made his ninth start of the season and was thoroughly bombarded. A Ryan O’Hearn RBI double put the Pirates on the board in the second inning, and Marcell Ozuna poked an RBI single before Henry Davis doubled the lead with a two-run homer into the left-field seats.

Back-to-back doubles and an RBI groundout plated two runs for the Brewers in the top of the fourth, but the blowout began when Ozuna ripped a solo home run to lead off the bottom of the inning.

The first nine Pirates batters reached base in the fourth. Per Elias Sports Bureau, that was the first time they accomplished such a feat since June 27, 1986, against the Montreal Expos.

Gasser ultimately surrendered eight hits and seven runs, and the Pirates knocked around two Brewers relievers for five hits and seven more runs. Included in the fourth-inning was Ozuna’s home run, a Jake Mangum triple, two doubles (Nick Gonzales and Jared Triolo) and two walks.

It was over when …

The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs in the bottom of the fourth. They took an 11-2 lead before the Brewers recorded an out.

On the mound

Skenes was idle for 36 minutes in the Pirates’ dugout amid the fourth-inning outburst, but he struck out three when he returned in the fifth. He certainly didn’t have to worry about run support, and spun a strong start to move his record to 8-8 and drop his ERA to 3.57 on the season.

Antwone Kelly gave up a two-run homer and three runs in the eighth before Brandon Eisert closed the ninth.

At the plate

By the end of the fourth inning, the Pirates led 14-2 and tallied 13 hits from nine different players.

The bottom of the Pirates order was particularly effective — Ozuna, Triolo and Davis batted a combined 7 for 14 with two home runs, a double and seven RBIs.

O’Hearn went 2 for 2 with two RBIs, a walk and a hit-by-pitch.

Bucs bites

— General manager Ben Cherington offered a few injury updates on his weekly radio show with 93.7 The Fan Sunday morning. He said Oneil Cruz (10-day injured list, left hand fractures) and Spencer Horwitz (10-day injured list, left hamstring strain) will aim for returns later this month, likely after undergoing rehab assignments.

“I think we’ll have a better sense after the break,” Cherington said. “Certainly still aiming for July.”

Cherington said Endy Rodriguez (10-day injured list, left glute strain) suffered a grade 1 strain, which is the least severe. Rodriguez, Cherington said, is recovering “quickly,” and the Pirates hope to add him back into the fold soon after the All-Star break.

— Cherington said he had no new information on Evan Sisk (15-day injured list, left elbow inflammation), but said test results revealed no structural concerns. Cherington also said Wilber Dotel is nearing a return from his right lat muscle strain. The right-hander threw 1 2/3 innings in Triple-A Indianapolis Saturday night and, Cherington said he “appears to be fully healthy and ready to pitch.”

— The Pirates’ 516 runs (5.3 per game) are their most in franchise history entering the All-Star break.

Up next

The Pirates enter the All-Star break on a high note after sweeping the Brewers, who own the second-best record in baseball. Braxton Ashcraft and Skenes will both be in Philadelphia for the Midsummer Classic, but neither will pitch in Tuesday’s All-Star game.

The Pirates return to action at 7:10 p.m. ET Friday, when they will play their first of three games against the Guardians at Progressive Field in Cleveland.

____