Isaac Mattson More Than Earned His First Big-League Win

PITTSBURGH — Isaac Mattson reported to PNC Park at about 1:30 in the afternoon prior to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ win against the Philadelphia Phillies on Saturday.

The Pirates recalled the right-hander from Triple-A Indianapolis in a slew of roster moves ahead of the second game of the weekend series.

Manager Don Kelly wasted no time throwing Mattson into the fire.

Pirates’ starter Andrew Heaney left the game with a calf cramp in the top of the seventh inning after throwing a wild pitch that allowed Alec Bohm to move up to third base with nobody out.

The first reliever out of the bullpen? Mattson. His job? Find a way to keep the game tied 1-1.

“He’s been pitching really well,” manager Don Kelly said on the decision. “He did a good job when he was up earlier this season and to have the two righties, we though (Philadelphia) might pitch-hit and we like him as a neutral guy against righty and lefty, like his changeup against lefties. So, thought he was a really good matchup to whatever way they went, as the inning went on, righty or lefty.”

Mattson, who inherited a 2-0 count after Heaney’s exit, struck out Nick Castellanos before getting J.T. Realmuto and pinch-hitter Bryson Stott to fly out and keep Bohm stranded at third base.

Mattson executed his pitches, but he credited catcher Henry Davis with helping him pull off a Houdini act.

“Henry did a great job of guiding me through the inning. When I got here today, he was just like, strength of attack, so that was the focus going into the outing,” he explained. “When they pinch-hit the third guy I ended up facing, having to face the lefty, he came out and did a great job of just running me through the attack plan. Credit to him for keeping me in the moment and just being able to focus pitch by pitch.”

Fitting for his efforts, Mattson was credited with his first big-league victory as the Pirates pulled out a 2-1 win.

The 29-year-old had 10 appearances under his belt between the Baltimore Orioles (2021) and Pirates (2024-25), but never received a decision.

“If you’re going to get one, get one like that,” said Heaney. “That’s an amazing way to get it. He was here before, he came in and pitched well, pitched with emotion. And so I think he’s the right guy in that moment to come in and get three big outs for us right there. Just happy for him. He deserves it. He’s worked hard for it.”

After Ke’Bryan Hayes grounded out to open the bottom of the seventh, Davis stepped into the batter’s box against tough Phillies starter Ranger Suárez.

A day after hitting a two-run home run to tie the game in the Pirates’ walk-off win on Friday night, Davis came through with more heroics.

Davis belted a first-pitch changeup into the bullpens in left-center field to put the Pirates ahead 2-1.

“Just can’t say enough about him and the energy that he’s brought, continuing to swing the bat like that,” Kelly said on Davis. “Huge home run today.”

The 2-1 lead ended up holding as Dennis Santana and David Bednar covered the final two innings with the latter converting his eighth save of the season.

Mattson not only kept the game tied, but he provided the Pirates with enough of a spark to take the lead and hold onto it.

“It’s huge. We feed off each other. It’s great energy,” Davis said on Mattson’s efforts. “We’ve been playing good baseball. For him to come in in a moment like that and pick Heaney up and strand the runner. Obviously, Heaney left everything out there today and gave us a chance to win. (Mattson) came in there and shut the door there and stopped the momentum. It was great.”