Morning Rundown: Pirates blow late lead, split versus Brewers, Ashcraft to join team in Arizona
Pirates lose series finale, head west to play Diamondbacks.
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a four-game series victory against the Milwaukee Brewers in their grasp, but a late-inning rally sunk them, and they lost 6-5 on Sunday.
Oneil Cruz led the offense with his 11th home run of the season. Oh, yeah, it was hit 122.9 off the bat, which breaks the record for hardest hit ball in the statcast era.
Adam Frazier drove in three runs on three hits, one a double. Tommy Pham had two hits and an RBI in the eight-hole.
Bailey Falter allowed three runs (two earned) on four hits and three walks over 5.2 innings pitched.
Ryan Borucki had the blow-up inning that ultimately cost the team a series win. He allowed three runs in two-thirds of an inning.
The Pirates hit the road for a six-game trip away from PNC Park, beginning with three against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
First pitch is 8:10 pm ET.
According to Noah Hiles, the Pirates will promote right-handed pitcher Braxton Ashcraft for the Arizona Diamondbacks series.
Ashcraft, 25, is 3-3 this season with the Indianapolis Indians, posting a 5.03 ERA with 56 strikeouts in 48.1 innings pitched. The Pirates are on the final stretch of 13 games in as many days, so Ashcraft gives them a fresh arm to use.
He last pitched on May 21, where he struck out nine batters over six innings.
Indianapolis Indians activated C Abrahan Gutierrez from the temporarily inactive list
Indianapolis Indians placed 1B Matt Gorski on the 7-day injured list retroactive to May 24, 2025
Top Exit Velocity
Oneil Cruz - PIT - 122.9 mph - Home Run
Nick Yorke - IND - 111.6 mph - Single
Tommy Pham - PIT - 110.7 mph - Single
Tommy Pham - PIT - 107.2 mph - Single
Andrew McCutchen - PIT - 103.2 mph - Single
Top Pitch Velocity
Chase Shugart - PIT - 96.8 mph
Chase Shugart - PIT - 96.4 mph
Chase Shugart - PIT - 95.7 mph
Jose Garces - BRD - 95.5 mph
Beau Burrows - BRD - 95.1 mph
Most Whiffs
Randy Labaut - IND - 9
Nick Dombkowski - IND - 8
Carson Fulmer - IND - 7
Hung-Leng Chang - GBO - 7
Bailey Falter - PIT - 6
Jarod Bayless - ALT - 6
JC Flowers - ALT - 6
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Indianapolis Indians - 0 vs Toledo Mud Hens - 8
Top Hitter - Billy Cook: 1-3, BB
Top Pitcher - Nick Dombkowski: 2.2 IP, 2 H, ER, 4 K
Altoona Curve - 1 vs Akron RubberDucks - 0
Top Hitter - Jack Brannigan: 1-2, BB, 2B
Top Pitcher - Jarod Bayless: 3 IP, BB, 3 K
Altoona Curve - 4 vs Akron RubberDucks - 5
Top Hitter - Termarr Johnson: 1-4, 2B, SB
Top Pitcher - Cy Nielson: IP, 2 K
Greensboro Grasshoppers - 7 vs Asheville Tourists - 6
Top Hitter - Omar Alfonzo - 2-2, 2 R, RBI, 3 BB, HR
Top Pitcher - Hung-Leng Chang: 3 IP, H, 4 K
Bradenton Marauders - 3 vs Clearwater Threshers - 6
Top Hitter - Braylon Bishop: 1-2, 2 R, 2 BB
Top Pitcher - Beau Burrows: IP, 2 K
Happy Memorial Day wishes to all and especially to fellow Veterans.
A tough loss for the Pirates. Bailey Falter pitched a good game and Mattson and Shugart were VG out of the BP. Ryan Borucki came in with a 5-3 lead and quickly gave up 3 Hits, a Walk, and 3 runs in less than an inning of work leading to the Pirates losing 6-5. He needs to turn that around quickly.
Great Exit velocities with all 5 being for hits including the 122.9 on a HR into the Allegheny from Oneil Cruz - fastest of the Statcast Era. He entered 2025 with 2.110 years of MLB Service, so his Arbitration years will begin in 2026. If we hope to attempt to sign him for at least his first and second years of Free Agency, we should have been in the planning stage already. Also good to see Tommy Pham (remember him?) getting into the act with 2 hits over 100 mph off the bat, and Adam Frazier also sweetening the "trade deadline" pot.
Good to see Jack Brannigan and Termarr Johnson listed in the Best Hitters in AA