Andrew McCutchen launched a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates exploded for 18 hits — their most in two years — in a 9-3 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night, snapping a three-game skid.
Bryan Reynolds and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each collected three hits and drove in two runs, fueling the Pirates’ offensive surge in the opener of a three-game set. The 18-hit performance was Pittsburgh’s highest since April 19, 2023, against the Rockies, per Elias Sports Bureau.
Starting pitcher Bailey Falter exited after four innings due to lower back tightness, but Chase Shugart (1-0) tossed two hitless frames with three strikeouts to earn his first career MLB win. The Pirates improved to 9-15 on the season.
Taylor Ward hit his sixth home run, and Jo Adell added an RBI double for the Angels, who have now lost six of their last eight games, falling back to .500 at 11-11.
Angels starter José Soriano (2-3) struggled, surrendering five runs and eight hits over 3 1/3 innings. It marked his second consecutive rough outing after giving up a career-high 10 hits in his previous start against Texas.
The Pirates jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the third with run-scoring singles from Joey Bart and Ke’Bryan Hayes. After Ward cut the lead with a solo homer, McCutchen responded in the fourth with his 321st career home run — a three-run blast — to make it 5-1.
Key Moment
Falter finished his night by striking out Kyren Paris with a runner on second in the fourth, preventing the Angels from building momentum.
Key Stat
McCutchen’s home run was his 237th in a Pirates uniform, putting him just three behind Roberto Clemente for third in franchise history. Only Willie Stargell (475) and Ralph Kiner (301) have more.
Up Next
Pittsburgh’s Andrew Heaney (1-1, 2.13 ERA) takes the mound Wednesday against his former team, while the Angels counter with Jack Kochanowicz (1-2, 6.20 ERA).
