Pirates Log 12th Shutout, Second-Best in MLB; Cruz Missile Drops D-Backs

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Jul 26, 2025
Pittsburgh Pirates Oneil Cruz fouls a pitch in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)
Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz fouls a pitch in the fifth inning of a spring training baseball game against the Toronto Blue Jays Tuesday, March 5, 2024, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Charlie Neibergall)

PITTSBURGH— The Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Arizona Diamondbacks 2-0 on Saturday, July 26, logging their 12th shutout of 2025. That ties them with the Cubs for the second-most shutouts in the Major Leagues, trailing only San Diego (14).

Tommy Pham reached base via error to open the second inning, then Oneil Cruz skied a fly ball 410 feet to center field to put the Pirates in front 2-0, giving them all the offense they needed.

Pham singled to lead off the fourth inning. After a Cruz pop out, Joey Bart poked an opposite field hit down the right field line, giving Pham an opportunity to score… until it skipped over the wall for a ground rule double.

Left-hander Genesis Cabrera relieved Heaney in the sixth inning and forced two quick outs before allowing a single to Lourdes Gurriel Jr., prompting manager Don Kelly to turn to Yohan Ramirez with power hitting righty Eugenio Suárez lurking. Suárez singled, but Ramirez caught Jorge Barrosa looking with a curveball to end the threat.

The Pirates put two aboard with one out in the seventh, but a fielders’ choice and a strikeout ended their chance of adding to the lead.

David Bednar entered in the ninth inning to protect the 2-0 lead, striking out Suárez with three straight curveballs low and away. After Barrosa lined out to left, Bednar fanned pinch-hitter Adrian Del Castillo to seal the win and secure his 100th career save.

Key Moment

Yohan Ramirez’s ability to limit Suárez — who has 36 home runs on the season — to a single and then freeze Barrosa looking kept the Pirates from unraveling in the sixth inning.

Star of the Game

Cruz, whose two-run blast put the Pirates in front for good.

Notable Pirates Performances

  • Andrew Heaney: 5 IP, 4 K’s, two hits allowed on 71 pitches
  • Oneil Cruz: 1-for-4, HR, 2 RBI
  • Joey Bart: 2-for-2, double, walk

Stat to Know

Oneil Cruz’s second inning home run marked his second in the month of July, and his first since July 8.

Noteworthy

  • Diamondbacks outfielder Randal Grichuk exited the game in the sixth inning after Arizona traded him to Kansas City.
  • David Bednar converted his 16th straight save opportunity and the 100th of his career.
  • The game began after a 41 minute rainless rain delay.

Up Next

Pirates staff ace Paul Skenes (5-8, 1.91 ERA, 137 SO) will face Diamondbacks’ right-hander Zac Gallen (7-11, 5.58 ERA, 116 SO) at 1:35 p.m. in the rubber match on Sunday, July 27.
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