Pirates' Big Rally
Pittsburgh Pirates Rally From Five-Run Deficit, Beat Phillies 11-7 with Key Homers
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The Pittsburgh Pirates erased a five-run deficit to beat the Philadelphia Phillies 11-7 on Sunday night, with Esmerlyn Valdez, Jared Triolo, and Endy Rodriguez all hitting home runs. Associated Press reported the win moves Pittsburgh to 43-42, putting them squarely in the National League Wild Card race.
Seven home runs flew out of Citizens Bank Park in front of 39,791 fans. The Pirates scored six runs in the fifth inning alone to flip a 5-2 deficit into an 8-5 lead — a rally that defined the entire game, according to MLB.com.
Rookie Valdez Sparks a Historic Four-Game Homer Streak
Esmerlyn Valdez, a 22-year-old rookie, went 3-for-4 and hit a two-run home run off Aaron Nola in the fourth inning to cut the lead to 5-2. It was his fourth straight game with a homer — a rare feat for any Pirates rookie. RotoWire noted he is hitting .533 over his last five games with a 1.001 OPS in his first 42 at-bats.
After the game, Valdez said through a translator, "Feels like it's my best game in the big leagues. Hopefully, more to come." Pirates manager Don Kelly called his 461-foot shot against Cincinnati the day before an "absolute bomb" that set the tone for the series, according to CBS News.
Pirates' Six-Run Fifth Inning Buries Aaron Nola
The fifth inning was a disaster for Philadelphia. Jared Triolo led off with a solo home run. Brandon Lowe hit a sacrifice fly. Ryan O'Hearn singled home a run to tie the game at 5-5. Endy Rodriguez then drew a bases-loaded walk to give Pittsburgh the lead. A throwing error by Trea Turner let two more runs score. The Pirates led 8-5 when the dust settled.
Nola took the loss, giving up 7 earned runs in just 4 1/3 innings. He has now allowed 19 home runs in 2026, tied for fifth-most in the majors. Phillies interim manager Don Mattingly did not hide his frustration, saying Nola has had "a tougher time... staying consistent with his stuff," according to Philly Sports Reports.
Phillies Roar Back in the Eighth, Then Rodriguez Slams the Door
Philadelphia nearly made it a game again. Brandon Marsh hit his second home run of the night in the eighth inning. J.T. Realmuto then singled home Bryson Stott to cut the Pirates' lead to just one run, 8-7. The crowd of nearly 40,000 was back in it.
But Endy Rodriguez ended the drama fast. He crushed a three-run homer off former Pirate Chase Shugart in the ninth to push the score to 11-7. Mason Montgomery then retired the side in the bottom of the ninth to seal the win, per Associated Press.
Phillies' Nola Problem Looms as Trade Deadline Approaches
The Phillies entered this game riding a remarkable turnaround. They became the first team in MLB history to go from 10 games under .500 to 10 games over .500 before the end of June, according to CBS Sports. Kyle Schwarber leads the team with 30 home runs. But the starting rotation remains a serious weak spot.
Nola's ERA has ballooned to 6.04 in 2026, a year after he finished 5-10 with a 6.01 ERA. The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that team president Dave Dombrowski faces growing pressure to add a starting pitcher before the trade deadline. Meanwhile, the Pirates send Bubba Chandler (3-7, 4.42 ERA) to the mound Tuesday against Phillies ace Cristopher Sanchez (9-3, 2.03 ERA).
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