​Ryan O’Hearn had a sensational day at the ballpark on Tuesday. The Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman went 4-for-5 at the plate, blasting three home runs in a 12-4 rout of the Atlanta Braves. He drove in the Pirates’ first 10 runs of the game, a performance that set a franchise record for RBI in a single game. By the time the day was over, O’Hearn had accumulated 13 total bases, and his numbers for home runs, RBI, and total bases all stood as career highs. He could have added even more if the Pirates hadn’t pulled him for a pinch runner after a single in the eighth inning.
O’Hearn’s big day began in dramatic fashion in the bottom of the first inning with the bases loaded. Braves starter Hurston Waldrep left a curveball over the outside corner, and O’Hearn clobbered it into the right-field bleachers for a grand slam, giving the Pirates a 4-1 lead. That early blast established the tone for a day full of power and production.
In what became a memorable moment for the broadcast, O’Hearn came to the plate again in the bottom of the third inning for his second at-bat. The game’s in-game interview featuring off-day pitcher Braxton Ashcraft occurred during Waldrep’s turn on the mound with two runners on base, yet O’Hearn’s hitting continued to steal the show. He delivered his second home run of the day, this time a deep shot to center field that pushed his RBI total to seven and extended the Pirates’ advantage.
The on-field fireworks continued in the sixth inning when Waldrep exited the game in favor of reliever Connor Thomas. O’Hearn promptly faced the new pitcher and wasted no time, belting a three-run homer on a 3-1 count that pushed his RBI total to 10 and solidified a new Pirates single-game RBI record. The crowd at PNC Park roared in appreciation as O’Hearn received a well-deserved curtain call and a standing ovation from the home fans who recognized the magnitude of the moment.
O’Hearn wasn’t done after that historic blast. He added one more plate appearance in the bottom of the eighth, delivering a single as the Pirates extended their lead to 11-2. With the Pirates already well ahead, he was pulled for a pinch runner, but the day’s success wasn’t tainted by that final substitution. The performance elevated O’Hearn’s season—he started the day with 13 home runs and 51 RBIs on the season and finished with 16 homers and 61 RBIs, a notable boost to his year-long totals and a standout performance that will be remembered by Pirates fans for years to come. This game marked a milestone in O’Hearn’s career and underscored his value as a powerful middle-of-the-order bat for Pittsburgh.