Jason Delay’s Three-Run Triple Leads Pirates to 8-2 Rebound Win Over Rockies

The Pittsburgh Pirates followed their worst game of 2024 with one of their better ones Sunday.

Jason Delay’s bases-loaded triple capped a five-run sixth inning and the Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 8-2 on Sunday at Coors Field in Denver. Jared Triolo hit a two-run single earlier in the inning before Delay put the Pirates ahead 6-0.

On Saturday night, the Pirates were routed 16-4 by the Rockies but rebounded to win two of three in the series.

The Pirates (34-37) had 15 hits on Sunday, including three by Rowdy Tellez and two by Andrew McCutchen, Oneil Cruz, Nick Gonzales, Triolo and Jack Suwinski. Tellez hit a two-run single in the seventh to push the lead to 8-0.

Bryan Reynolds singled in the seventh inning to run his hitting streak to 14 games. Suwinski singled in the game’s first run in the second.

Carmen Mlodzinski (1-2) pitched two scoreless innings in relief of opener Josh Fleming for the win. Fleming worked four shutout innings in his first appearance since being called up from Indianapolis on Friday.

Fleming began the season with the Pirates and made one start as an opener and 16 relief appearances before being outrighted to Indianapolis on May 16.

The left-hander becomes the ninth Pirates pitcher to make multiple starts and record a save in the same season since 2000 along with Roansy Contreras (2023), Nick Kingham (2019), Steven Brault (2017), Brad Lincoln (2012), Shawn Chacon (2007), Salomon Torres (2003), Brian Meadows (2003) and Omar Olivares (2001).

The Rockies’ runs came on Jake Cave’s ground out in the seventh against Justin Bruihl and Nolan Jones’ RBI single off Kyle Nicolas in the ninth. Jones had three hits.

Dakota Hudson (2-9) gave up three runs in 5.1 innings with five strikeouts and one walk as the Rockies dropped to 25-46,

UP NEXT

The Pirates play the Cincinnati Reds at 6:40 p.m. ET Monday at PNC Park to open a three-game series and six-game homestand that also includes three games against the Tampa Bay Rays. Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (3-0, 2.43) is scheduled to make his seventh major-league start and face fellow rookie RHP Carson Spiers (0-0, 2.33).