The Pittsburgh Pirates entered Thursday afternoon looking to avoid dropping another series to the Philadelphia Phillies, and thanks to a breakout performance from rookie Esmerlyn Valdez and a late offensive surge, they left Citizens Bank Park with a convincing 6-1 victory that secured a split of the four-game set.
The game did not begin smoothly for Valdez. In the third inning, with the bases loaded and a prime scoring opportunity, the 22-year-old grounded into an inning-ending double play that appeared to halt one of the Pirates’ best early chances. For many young players, such a moment can linger throughout the game.
After the costly double play, the rookie drove in runs in each of his next three plate appearances. He tied the game with an RBI single in the fifth inning, delivered the go-ahead RBI triple in the seventh and added a sacrifice fly in the eighth, finishing with three RBIs and continuing what has become one of the hottest stretches by any Pirates hitter this season.
Manager Don Kelly praised Valdez’s resilience after the game, noting that bouncing back immediately after a bases-loaded double play showed unusual maturity for such a young player.
Valdez has rapidly established himself in the heart of Pittsburgh’s lineup. Since moving into the cleanup spot, he has driven in 15 runs in just 19 games. Over his last 10 contests, he has collected 16 hits in 33 at-bats, including four doubles, one triple, four home runs and 10 RBIs, raising his batting average to .316.
Third baseman Nick Gonzales, who also continued his outstanding season, called Valdez “absolutely unbelievable” and praised the rookie for remaining confident even after struggling during his first days in the majors.
Gonzales contributed heavily to the victory as well, going 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs. It marked his second consecutive three-hit game and lifted his batting average above .300. Endy Rodriguez added a solo homer of his own as the Pirates’ offense finally broke through late.
Jared Jones started for Pittsburgh on one of the hottest days of the summer, with field temperatures reportedly reaching 112 degrees. The right-hander worked four innings, allowing one run on two hits and two walks while striking out six.
Although he threw only 73 pitches, the Pirates elected not to send him back out for the fifth inning because of the extreme conditions.
The bullpen then took over and was outstanding. Carmen Mlodzinski earned the win by tossing three scoreless innings in relief, while the Pittsburgh relief corps combined to hold the Phillies to just four hits all afternoon.
Pittsburgh stranded 12 runners during the game and repeatedly threatened before finally breaking through.
One of the most frustrating missed opportunities came in the third inning. Bryan Reynolds drove a ball deep to right field that hit the top of the wall, but baserunner Jake Mangum hesitated, unsure whether it would be caught. The delay prevented extra bases and left the Pirates with the bases loaded and only one out.
Valdez then grounded into the double play.
The rookie later said he reminded himself to stay positive because there was still plenty of game remaining.
Philadelphia took a 1-0 lead in the bottom of the third on Bryce Harper’s RBI double, but the Pirates finally answered in the fifth against Tim Mayza. Valdez lined a single to center field to score the tying run and make it 1-1.
After failing to capitalize again in the sixth, Pittsburgh seized control in the seventh against left-hander Jose Alvarado. Brandon Lowe singled and stole second before Valdez ripped a line drive that got past center fielder Justin Crawford, allowing Lowe to score easily and giving the Pirates a 2-1 lead.
Gonzales followed with a two-out RBI single to push the advantage to 3-1.
The Pirates added insurance in the eighth when Rodriguez led off with his fifth home run of the season. Later in the inning, Valdez lifted a sacrifice fly to right field with the bases loaded, extending the lead to 5-1.
Gonzales then put the finishing touches on the victory by opening the ninth inning with a home run.
Afterward, Gonzales joked that his wife had told him before the game to hit a homer — something she had never said before — and suggested she might need to make the same request more often.
With the win, the Pirates climbed back to the .500 mark and headed home with renewed momentum after salvaging a split against a Phillies team that had entered the series among the hottest clubs in the National League.
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