Cruz Powers Pirates, Wild Pitch Seals Crazy Walk-Off Win Over Brewers

PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz hit a pair of home runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates walked-off the Milwaukee Brewers 6-5 on Abner Uribe’s wild pitch in the bottom of the 10th on Friday night at PNC Park.

How We Got There

Oneil Cruz hit his first home run in nearly a month. His 442-foot rocker to center field off Brewers starter Freddy Peralta in the third put the Pirates ahead 1-0. 

Things we love to see = Cruz Missiles 💣 pic.twitter.com/6vBzOVDD4f

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 23, 2025

With the bases loaded in the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates (18-34) pushed across their second run on a Bryan Reynolds walk. 

The Brewers (26-26) finally struck against Skenes in the sixth inning when Rhys Hoskins singled home Jackson Chourio with two outs. 

Skenes’ night was done after the sixth inning. The right-hander allowed one run on four hits with eight strikeouts. 

The Brewers rallied to take the lead off reliever Tanner Rainey in the top of the seventh. Brice Turang and Churio each recorded RBI singles. 

The Pirates evened the score when Reynolds followed Andrew McCutchen’s double with an RBI single in the seventh. 

With one out in the ninth, David Bednar left a 3-2 fastball over the middle of the plate, and Contreras whacked it into the bullpens in center.

But Cruz got the run right back for the Pirates by mashing his second homer of the game into the right field stands.

He does it AGAIN 🙌 pic.twitter.com/TWIUQxSmcW

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) May 24, 2025

Brewers automatic runner Caleb Durbin stole third base and scored on Isaac Collins’ chopper through the left side of the infield in the 10th to put the Brewers ahead by a run.

Alexander Canario tied things up at 5-all with an RBI single in the bottom of the 10th, setting up the walk-off wild pitch.

Adam Fraizer scored the winning run in the 10th.

Key Moment

The game-winner came after Canario was called out at home on Isiah Kiner-Falefa’s opposite-field base hit.

The @Pirates raise the Jolly Roger! 🏴‍☠️ #Walkoff pic.twitter.com/tcD8GFpkd8

— MLB (@MLB) May 24, 2025

Star of the Game

Oneil Cruz recorded his first multi-homer game of his career. The combined distance of his two long balls measured 869 feet.

Notable Performances

• Paul Skenes: 6.0 innings, four hits, one run, two walks, eight strikeouts, 101 pitches/63 strikes
• Oneil Cruz: 2 for 5, two home runs, two RBI, two runs
• Andrew McCutchen: 2 for 3, one double, one run, two walks
• Bryan Reynolds 1 for 4, two RBI, one walk
• Adam Frazier: 3 for 3, two walks, one run
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 3 for 5, one run

Stat to Know

Despite posting a 2.32 ERA over his last five starts, Skenes has an 0-3 record. This is the first time the Pirates won a game Skenes started since Apr. 25 against the Dodgers in Los Angeles. 

Noteworthy

• Oneil Cruz’s solo home run was his first since Apr. 26 against the Dodgers. His latest blast had an exit velocity of 117.9 mph, the hardest-hit homer of his career (h/t Alex Stumpf of MLB.com).
• Isiah Kiner-Falefa extended his hitting streak to six games with a three-hit performance.
• Adam Frazier had his first three-hit game of the season and first since going 3 for 4 against the Twins last season.

Up Next

RHP Mitch Keller (1-6, 3.88 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh on Saturday. Former Pirate RHP Quinn Priester (1-2, 4.66 ERA) will be on the mound for the Brewers. First pitch: 4:05 p.m. ET.