Pirates Rally Past Royals 8-5
Pirates Rally Past Royals 8-5
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Key Points
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Pittsburgh played before an announced crowd of 25,424 at PNC Park, producing 15 hits overall in the comeback victory.
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The Pirates went 28-40 without Oneil Cruz and 33-39 without Konnor Griffin, underscoring the extent of the impact of their injuries on Pittsburgh’s season.
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Yohan Ramirez earned the win after escaping a seventh-inning jam, while Gregory Soto recorded his 15th save with a scoreless ninth inning.
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Paul Skenes entered the game amid a stronger recent stretch: despite a difficult season overall, he had posted a 2.74 ERA across his previous four starts and had recently reduced walks and hard-hit contact.
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Manager Don Kelly said the Pirates had also been hurt by injuries to Ryan O’Hearn, Spencer Horwitz and Endy Rodríguez, but emphasized that the team had continued to compete despite its playoff position.
The Pittsburgh Pirates rallied from four runs down to defeat the Kansas City Royals 8-5 on Friday at PNC Park, moving to 77-77 with eight games left to play. CBS Sports reported that Konnor Griffin sparked the comeback with four hits and two RBIs, while Oneil Cruz added three hits, combining for seven total hits after both returned from hand injuries that sidelined them for more than two months.
Griffin and Cruz Power Pittsburgh's Comeback
Konnor Griffin went 4-for-5, batting .311 over his last 10 games with a .354 on-base percentage. Oneil Cruz added three hits in five at-bats. Both players had missed extended time with hand injuries, and their return proved crucial to Pittsburgh's offense.
The Pirates produced 15 hits overall in the victory. CBS Sports noted all four of Griffin's hits were singles, but the shortstop's plate discipline and consistency drove the rally. Without these two players healthy, Pittsburgh had struggled significantly.
Skenes Solid Despite Early Struggles
Paul Skenes allowed five runs across six innings but struck out seven batters. The pitcher had posted a 2.74 ERA over his previous four starts and recently cut down on walks and hard-hit contact, showing improvement before Friday's game.
Pittsburgh's bullpen shut Kansas City down completely over the final three innings. Yohan Ramirez earned the win after escaping a seventh-inning jam, while Gregory Soto recorded his 15th save with a scoreless ninth.
Pirates' Season Defined by Injury Struggles
Pittsburgh went 28-40 without Oneil Cruz and 33-39 without Konnor Griffin, showing how deeply their absences wounded the lineup. Manager Don Kelly noted that injuries to Ryan O'Hearn, Spencer Horwitz and Endy Rodríguez also hampered the team's playoff push.
An announced crowd of 25,424 at PNC Park watched the Pirates compete despite slim postseason chances. The victory provided a bright spot amid a difficult season, as Pittsburgh's rebuilt roster continues searching for answers with eight games remaining.
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