Pirates’ Offense Finally Comes Alive in Win Over Rangers; Unlikely Sources Deliver

PITTSBURGH — It took until the fifth inning on Sunday for the Pirates to claim their first lead of the series against the Rangers, but once they got it, they kept their foot on the gas. 

Five different Pirates’ players had multi-hit games while three drove in multiple runs in an 8-3 win to avoid the series sweep at PNC Park.

How We Got There

The Rangers (38-40) jumped ahead 2-0 in the second inning before the Pirates (31-48) responded with seven unanswered runs. 

Ke’Bryan Hayes got the Pirates on the board with an RBI single to right, and Tommy Pham tied the game 2-all with a sacrifice fly.

The Pirates sent nine men to the plate in the fifth and scored five runs. Nick Gonzales gave Pittsburgh its first lead with an RBI single. Spencer Horwitz followed with a two-run double to right before Hayes chipped in another RBI single and scored on a double to center from Pham.

Texas put an end to the Pirates’ run by scoring on Josh Jung’s RBI fielder’s choice to third in the sixth. 

Pham got the run back for the Pirates in the bottom of the seventh on his second RBI double of the game.

Caleb Ferguson, Dennis Santana and David Bednar combined for 3.2 innings of perfect relief to seal the win.

Key Moment

Ke’Bryan Hayes made a diving play in the third inning that likely saved a pair of runs and kept the game from getting out of hand. 

Ke'Bryan Hayes casually saves 2 runs with an effortless diving stop

PLATINUM GLOVE. NOW. pic.twitter.com/azmbJFMJec

— Platinum Ke’Bryan (@PlatinumKey13) June 22, 2025

Star of the Game

Tommy Pham had by far his best game as a Pirate. The left fielder finished 3 for 3 with two doubles, three RBI and a sac fly. 

Stat to Know

Tommy Pham’s RBI double was his first extra-base hit since a double against the Dodgers on Apr. 26. He had gone a span of 26 games without an extra-base hit.

Notable Performances

• Bailey Falter (6-3): 5.1 innings, six hits, three runs, five walks, one strikeout, 89 pitches/52 strikes
• Tommy Pham: 3 for 3, two doubles, three RBI, one sac fly
• Spencer Horwitz: 3 for 4, two doubles, two RBI, three runs
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 4, two RBI, one run
• Bryan Reynolds: 3 for 4, one walk, one run
• Nick Gonzales: 2 for 5, one RBI

Noteworthy

• This was the first multi-RBI game for Ke’Bryan Hayes since Apr. 14 (three RBI against the Nationals). It was his third game this season with at least two RBI.
• Bryan Reynolds recorded his sixth game this season with at least three hits. He had one hit in his last 27 at-bats entering play.
• Spencer Horwitz recorded his first three-hit game as a Pirate.
• Bailey Falter has now won five-straight decisions, a streak that started on May 9 against the Braves.
• The Pirates outhit the Rangers 15-6 and went 7 for 15 with runners in scoring position.

Up Next

The Pirates head to Milwaukee to start a three-game series with the Brewers on Monday night. RHP Chad Patrick (3-7, 3.50 ERA) will start for Milwaukee. Pittsburgh has yet to announce a starter. First pitch: 7:40 p.m. ET.