​Pittsburgh delivered a dominant performance on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, completing a sweep of the first-place Milwaukee Brewers after taking both ends of Saturday’s doubleheader. A blistering 10-run fourth inning propelled the Pirates to a 14-5 victory and their first series triumph over Milwaukee at home since August 2022.
Early on, Pittsburgh struck quickly against Brewers starter Robert Gasser. In the bottom of the second, the Pirates erupted for four runs, with Esmerlyn Valdez and Ryan O’Hearn lining back-to-back doubles and Marcell Ozuna contributing an RBI single to push the lead to 2-0. Henry Davis followed with a two-run homer to left, increasing the advantage.
Milwaukee answered in the top of the fourth, finally getting to Pirates starter Paul Skenes. Jackson Chourio started the Brewers’ comeback with an RBI double, and Gary Sánchez brought him home later in the frame on a fielder’s choice, trimming the deficit to 4-2. But Pittsburgh would dominate the rest of the game.
In the bottom of the fourth, the Pirates exploded for 10 runs. Ozuna opened the inning with a solo homer, and Davis added an RBI single. Bryan Reynolds was hit by a pitch with the bases loaded, prompting a walk to Valdez. O’Hearn then delivered an RBI single, Nick Gonzales doubled home two runs, Jared Triolo delivered a two-run single to left, and Jake Mangum completed the big inning with an RBI triple. The outburst left the score at 14-2.
The scoring continued into the top of the eighth when Brice Turang hit a two-run homer off Antwone Kelly with one out. Garrett Mitchell added another run with a double later in the inning, capping a strong offensive showing for Pittsburgh.
This marked the Pirates’ second 10-run inning of the season, an offensive achievement not equaled for the club since a 10-run frame against the Nationals on April 13. According to Elias Sports Bureau, it was also the first time in Pirates history that two different innings in a season produced at least 10 runs in an otherwise spectacular campaign.
Key performances helped carry the day. Skenes went 5.1 innings, allowing three hits, two runs, one walk, and striking out seven on 82 pitches (54 strikes). Henry Davis finished 2-for-4 with a home run, three RBIs, and three runs scored. Ozuna went 2-for-5 with a homer, two RBIs, and two runs. O’Hearn went 2-for-2 with a double, a walk, an HBP, two RBIs, and two runs. Reynolds contributed a pair of hit-by-pitches and drove in a run. Davis’ eighth home run of the season stands as a career high for long balls in a campaign thus far.
This impressive performance came as the Pirates sit above .500 at the All-Star Break for the first time since 2016, with a franchise-best 516 runs before the break. Davis’ home run gave him eight on the year, another personal best. Jacob Gonzalez, acquired just the night before, made his Pirates debut as a defensive substitution at first base in the seventh inning.
This series win marked the Pirates’ first-ever Brewers sweep at PNC Park since August 2022, and it added a fresh momentum boost heading into the All-Star Break. Pittsburgh now shifts its focus to the American League side as they prepare to face the Cleveland Guardians in Cleveland in July, aiming to maintain their elevated standing through the season’s second half.