Pirates Preview: What Will Bucs Do as Encore to Walk-Off Win?

Danny Demilio |

Jun 7, 2025

Nick Gonzales, Matt Hague, Spencer Horwitz, Pittsburgh Pirates

Nick Gonzales delivered a walk-off sacrifice fly for the Pittsburgh Pirates for a 5-4 win over the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday night.

The Pirates trailed three different times in the game but continued to claw their way back, thanks largely to home runs from Bryan Reynolds and Henry Davis, and an excellent performance from the bullpen.

The Pirates (24-40) will look to earn a series win against the Phillies (37-26) in the battle of the Keystone State on Saturday

First pitch is set for 4:05 p.m. ET, and the game will be broadcast on SportsNet Pittsburgh and 93.7 The Fan.

Weather

Mostly cloudy skies with temperature in the upper 70s. Winds N at 4-6 mph.

LHP Andrew Heaney (3-4, 3.39 ERA) Will Start for the Pirates

Heaney pitched well in San Diego on Sunday, when he held the Padres to two runs on five hits in 5.2 innings.

It was a good bounce-back effort from the veteran left-hander how was tagged for five runs on five hits (two homers) in Arizona earlier in the road trip.

Heaney’s allowed two runs or fewer in four of his last five starts but hasn’t been quite as sharp as he was earlier in the season. During that stretch, he’s only recorded 13 strikeouts against 11 walks in 26.2 innings.

In his career against the Phillies, Heaney is 0-2 with a 6.08 ERA in three starts. He allowed one run in 5.0 innings in a no-decision in Philadelphia last month.

LHP Ranger Suárez (4-0, 2.72 ERA) Will Start for the Phillies

Suárez continued to pitch extremely well by holding the Brewers to two runs (one earned) in 6.0 innings on Sunday.

Since a rocky season debut on May 4, the left-hander is a perfect 4-0 with a 1.10 ERA over his last five starts dating back to May 10.

Suárez ranks sixth in baseball since then in ERA and is two spots behind Pirates’ ace Paul Skenes (1.04) on the leaderboard.

The Pirates faced Suárez at Citizens Bank Park on May 16 and scored three runs in 7.0 innings. Suárez is 4-0 with a 2.19 ERA in eight career appearances against Pittsburgh.

Phillies Hitters vs. Heaney

Nick Castellanos: 6 for 11, one double, two strikeouts
Max Kepler: 1 for 9, one double, two walks, one strikeout
Bryce Harper: 3 for 6, one RBI, one walk, two strikeouts
Kyle Schwarber: 2 for 5, one RBI, one walk
Edmundo Sosa: 4 for 4, two doubles
J.T. Realmuto: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one walk
Alec Bohm: 0 for 3, one walk
Trea Turner: 0 for 3

Pirates Hitters vs. Suárez

Ke’Bryan Hayes: 2 for 13, one RBI, three walks, three strikeouts
Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 11, four strikeouts
Andrew McCutchen: 4 for 10, two doubles, one RBI, one walk, five strikeouts
Jared Triolo: 1 for 7, one walk, two strikeouts
Henry Davis: 2 for 5, two RBI
Tommy Pham: 1 for 5, two walks, one strikeout
Alexander Canario: 2 for 3, one home run, three RBI, one strikeout
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: 0 for 3, one walk

Tidbits

Nick Gonzales sac fly was the third walk-off of his career and his second against the Phillies. He hit a walk-off single against Philadelphia last season on July 19.
David Bednar got the win for the Pirates, which snapped a nine-decision losing streak. His last win was on May 21 against the Giants last season.
Bailey Falter was charged with more earned runs on Friday night (four) than he was the entire month of May (three)