Pirates Squander Three-Run Lead vs. Angels; Gorski Makes Big First Impression

Matt Gorski homered in his first big-league at-bat, but the Pittsburgh Pirates blew a three-run lead and fell 4-3 to the Los Angeles Angels at Angel Stadium on Thursday night.

How We Got There

For the third time this season, Oneil Cruz blasted a leadoff home run. Cruz’s home run off Angels starter Tyler Anderson was his seventh of the season and his first against a left-handed pitcher.

Later in the inning, Ke’Bryan Hayes put the Pirates (10-16) ahead 2-0 after bouncing into a fielder’s choice. Andrew McCutchen, who doubled, scored on the play.

Leading off the top of the second inning, Gorski blasted a 434-foot home run with an exit velocity of 115.2 mph to left-center on the seventh pitch of the at-bat.

MATT GORSKI FIRST AT BAT 🤝 FIRST HOME RUN! pic.twitter.com/Dga4agwRLH

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 25, 2025

Pirates starter Carmen Mlodzinski held the Angels (12-12) scoreless through the first three innings but allowed three runs in the fourth. Taylor Ward recorded an RBI single and scored on Logan O’Hoppe’s two-run home run.

The score remained the same until Zach Neto hit a game-winning solo home run off off Chase Shugart (1-1) in the bottom of the eighth.

Key Moment

O’Hoppe’s home run erased the Pirates’ lead and continued the trend of Mlodzinski’s struggles the second time through a lineup.

Star of the Game

Neto went 3 for 4 with his game-winning home run and a double. It was his first multi-hit game of the season.

Notable Pirates’ Performances

• Carmen Mlodzinski: 5.0 innings, five hits, three runs, one walk, four strikeouts
• Oneil Cruz: 2 for 5, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Matt Gorski: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run
• Joey Bart: 2 for 4
• Andrew McCutchen: 1 for 4, one double, one run
• Ke’Bryan Hayes: 1 for 4, one RBI

Stat to Know

Matt Gorski became the first Pirates’ player to homer in his first at-bat since Starling Marte in 2012.

Noteworthy

• The Pirates recalled RHP Mike Burrows from Triple-A Indianapolis and selected OF Matt Gorski.
• OF Jack Suwisnki was optioned to Indianapolis and RHP Justin Lawrence (right elbow inflammation) was placed on the 15-day injured list. LHP Tim Mayza (lat) was transferred to the 60-day IL.

Up Next

The Pirates will make the short trip from Anaheim to Los Angeles to start a three-game series with the Dodgers on Friday night. It’ll be a battle of aces as RHP Paul Skenes (2-2, 2.87 ERA) squares off with RHP Yoshinobu Yamamoto (3-1, 0.93 ERA). First pitch: 10:10 p.m. ET.