This series was a rollercoaster for the Pirates. They went from sleepwalking in Game 1, to offensive fireworks in Game 2, and finally to a statement-making finish in Game 3. By the time they walked off the field on Wednesday afternoon, the Pirates had claimed the series and provedthat when the bats and arms click, this team can be downright dangerous.
The opener was painful. Braxton Ashcraft made his 2026 debut and pitched well, giving up just two runs on four hits over six innings. Out of the pen, Isaac Mattson and Justin Lawrence added two more scoreless innings in relief. On paper, that should have been enough to win a game. On the field, it was not.
The offense was lifeless. Ryan O’Hearn and Brandon Lowe were the only players producingonce again, each reaching base three times with a single and two walks. The new guys continued to be the only guys making an impact. Outside of that, the lineup looked like it had been stuck in 2025. Spencer Horwitz and Nick Gonzales managed one hit each. Eleven strikeouts, five walks, and basically zero other contributions summed up the rest of the night. It was frustrating to watchto say the very least.
The only moment in the game for the Pirates where it felt like maybe a little rally could happen was in the ninth inning. Connor Phillips was going for his first save for the Reds, but he could not find the zone whatsoever. He walked Marcell Ozuna on four pitches, then threw five straight balls to O’Hearn (two were out of the zone that got called strikes) before eventually walking him as well. With the tying run on base and no one out, it looked like a great opportunity for the Pirates to have a big inning. Well, that quickly came to an end. Triolo followed up with a strikeout and Horwitz followed that up with a fly out to left. Gonzales hit a little blooper behind second base that was hauled in to end the game. It was a gross ending to a gross game from the Pirates offense.
Game 2 was a completely different story. The bats came alive, and it was ignited by Ryan O’Hearn once again. The bases were loaded with nobody out early, and a sacrifice fly from Nick Yorke got the Pirates on the board first. Then O’Hearn launched a massive three-run homer overthe center field wall, finally giving the team some serious momentum and a crooked number on the scoreboard early. Bryan Reynolds immediately followed with a moonshot of his own as the Bucs went back-to-back, giving them a 5-0 lead and setting the tone for the night.
Oneil Cruz joined the homer parade in the fourth with a towering blast into right-center and was not done there. In the ninth, he launched another Cruz Missile that hung so high it felt like it might never land before dropping into the seats for a two-run shot. Cruz finished with three hits and three RBI’s, showing for the first time this season that he can be a serious threat at the plate.
The pitching was just as impressive. Bubba Chandler struggled with control at times, walking six, but the stuff was electric. He struck out six Reds and regularly touched triple digits, making hitters look silly when he was in the zone. Chandler’s highlight came on a bunt attempt where he fielded the ball in the air, spun, and fired a perfect strike to second for a double play. It was one of those moments that makes you realize how much of an athletic freak this guy is.
Defensively, there were still problems. Reynolds and Cruz miscommunicated on a fly ball in left-center, allowing a run to score before the Reds even recorded a hit. It was not Cruz’s fault this time, as he was calling Reynolds off, but it still highlighted just how much a struggle it has been in the field for the Pirates to start off the 2026 season.
When Chandler left in the fifth with the bases loaded, Yohan Ramirez came in and struck out both Matt McClain and Elly De La Cruz to escape unscathed. The rest of the bullpen looked a little shaky but ultimately didn’t hurt the result. Hunter Barco gave them extended innings butgave up two homers to De La Cruz and Sal Stewart. Dennis Santana found himself in a jam, but Lowe bailed him out with a diving catch and double play to end the threat. Gregory Soto loaded the bases in the ninth but ended the game without any further damage. The Buccos came out victorious by a score of 8-3 and gave themselves a chance for a series win with Paul Skenes on the bump for the rubber match.
The series finale started with a bang. After two quick outs in the first, Reynolds singled and Ozuna walked. Cruz stepped in and sent another massive missile into the seats, giving the Pirates an early 3-0 lead. For the third time in less than 24 hours, Cruz delivered a big blow, this time offthe left-handed Andrew Abbott. Cruz has looked locked in at the plate lately, especially against left-handed pitching, and it has been extremely encouraging to watch.
Paul Skenes got the start and worked through the first three innings with ease after starting with a leadoff walk. The fourth inning saw the Reds push a run across, but Skenes bounced back with a scoreless fifth before exiting. He finished with five complete innings, three hits, one run, five strikeouts, and two walks. It may have been a shorter Skenes Day yet again, but it was a nice bounce-back effort after the miserable Opening Day start.
The Pirates got the run back in the sixth, once again with two outs. Cruz singled, Yorke walked, and Connor Phillips, who had struggled in Monday’s ninth inning, walked two more, forcing in a run to make it 4-1.
Mason Montgomery entered in the sixth in relief of Skenes and struggled, giving up a two-run homer to Eugenio Suárez that cut the lead to 4-3. Walks have been a huge problem for this team early in the season, and this was a perfect example of how quickly it can get messy when giving guys free passes. They are near the top of the National League in walks allowed.
From there, the bullpen settled things down. Isaac Mattson pitched an inning and a third of scoreless baseball, allowing only one hit, and Justin Lawrence delivered a dominant scoreless eighth against the heart of the Reds order. These two have looked really strong as of late.
The offense finally provided insurance and put the game away in the ninth. Horwitz singled, Henry Davis was hit by a pitch, and a wild pitch advanced them into scoring position with only one out. Nicky G came through in a big way by lining a ball in to left field, scoring both runners and making it 6-3. If that wasn’t big enough, Reynolds delivered the final dagger. He crushed a two-run shot deep into the right field seats and suddenly the route was on at Great American Ball Park.
Gregory Soto tossed a scoreless bottom half of the ninth and the Bucs won by a final score of 8-3 yet again. Pittsburgh took the series while Jolly Rogers were being raised and cones were being hoisted all over the place.
That said, the Pirates are 2-0 with a combined score of 16-6 since the release of the Bucco Bantr “Hoist The Cone” T-Shirt. Get yours today:
HOIST THE CONE T-SHIRT – Bucco Bantr
Series Takeaways
This series showed both the frustrations and the potential of this Pirates team. Game 1 reminded everyone of the team’s offensive struggles. Game 2 showcased raw power and highlighted Bubba Chandler’s electric potential. Game 3 balanced timely hitting, strong pitching from Skenes, and insurance runs from Gonzales and Reynolds to secure the series win.
Cruz has been unstoppable over the last two days. O’Hearn continues to produce in big moments, and Reynolds has shown he still can produce at a high level. The bullpen has been mostly reliable, though walks remain a serious concern. Defensively, there is still room for improvement.
Despite the bumps, the Pirates leave Cincinnati with a series win, some momentum heading into the home opener, and plenty of evidence that when the offense wakes up and the pitching staff executes, this team can compete with anyone in the National League.
