A NEW LOW: Pirates Explode for 16 Runs But Get Walked Off By Rockies

Danny Demilio   |  

Aug 2, 2025

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The lowly Pittsburgh Pirates offense erupted for a season-high 16 runs against the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field on Friday night… only to get walked off 17-16.  Twice, the Pirates led by nine runs. And they lost… to a team that got its 29th win of the season on the first day of August. Just when you think things can’t get any worse.

How We Got There

Oneil Cruz’s grand slam and Andrew McCutchen’s three-run home run were the highlights of a nine-run first inning. Bryan Reynolds and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each plated runs on base hits.

Spencer Horwitz brought home the Pirates’ 10th run of the game with a groundout in the fourth before McCutchen plated two more with a single into left field.

The Pirates (47-63) plated three more runs in the fifth inning — one on a Jared Triolo base hit and two more on a double from Kiner-Falefa to put Pittsburgh ahead 15-6.

Joey Bart was hit with a pitch in the sixth with the bases loaded, resulting in the Pirates’ 16th run of the game, which put them ahead 16-10.

But the Rockies responded with seven unanswered runs to end the game. Brenton Doyle capped off a five-run bottom of the ninth inning with a walk-off home run off Dennis Santana (3-3).

Pirates starter Andrew Heaney allowed four runs (three earned) in 3.1 innings. The Rockies (29-80) then scored six runs off Thomas Harrington, who only recorded two outs. Yanquiel Fernández hit a two-run homer off Yohan Ramírez in the eighth to make the score 16-12.

The unimaginable loss snapped the Pirates’ five-game winning streak.

Key Moment

Brenton Doyle’s walk-off sealed an embarrassing loss for the Pirates, perhaps the worst in franchise history.

Star of the Game

Andrew McCutchen finished the game 3 for 5 with a home run, a walk and three runs scored. His five RBI were the most he’s had in a game since Aug. 19, 2023 against the Twins in Minnesota.

Stat to Know

This was the first time since at least 1901 that the Pirates scored 16 runs and lost the game. (h/t to Alex Stumpf of MLB.com on Twitter/X).

Notable Performances

• Andrew McCutchen: 3 for 5, one home run, five RBI, one walk, three runs
• Oneil Cruz: 2 for 6, one home run, one double,  four RBI, two runs
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 5, one double, three RBI, two runs
• Nick Gonzales: 4 for 6, one run
• Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 5, one RBI, one run
• Joey Bart: 0 for 1, four walks, one hit by pitch, one RBI, two runs

Noteworthy

• The Pirates’ nine-run first inning consisted of 10 hits, the most they’ve had in a single inning of a game since August 6, 1959 at St. Louis, when they had 10 hits in the ninth. (Despite this, they somehow still lost).
• 16 runs are the most the Pirates scored in a game since the second game of a double header on April 29, 2023 against the Nationals. (No, you didn’t misread anything, they really lost this game).
• The first inning marked the first time they had seven straight batters reach base safely to begin a game without recording an out since May 27, 2007 at Cincinnati (also seven straight). (How do you lose this game?)
• Their nine runs were their most in any inning since July 9, 2017 against the Cubs in Chicago. (Unlike that day, they lost this game).
• Andrew McCutchen passed Bill Mazeroski for fifth all-time on the Pirates’ RBI list. McCutchen now has 857.
• The Pirates reinstated LHP Ryan Borucki from the 15-day IL and recalled RHPs Thomas Harrington and Kyle Nicolas and INF Jared Triolo from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Up Next

RHP Paul Skenes (6-8, 1.83 ERA) will start for the Pirates in the second game of the series on Saturday. Hell be opposed by LHP Austin Gomber (0-5, 6.28 ERA). First pitch: 3:10 p.m. ET.