Pirates Sweep First-Place Team Before All-Star Break

The Pittsburgh Pirates will enter the All-Star Break with some much-needed momentum after sweeping the Milwaukee Brewers over the weekend. Pittsburgh improved their record to 50-47, marking the first time since 2016 that they've had a winning record heading into the Midsummer Classic.

After Friday night's game at PNC Park was postponed because of rain, the Buccos proceeded to win both games of Saturday's doubleheader. They took game one by a score of 7-6, with the bullpen holding on to the lead after a short outing from starting pitcher Braxton Ashcraft.

Game two was another one-run affair, with the Pirates winning 3-2. Bryan Reynolds provided the game-winning RBI in the sixth inning. Again, the bullpen was able to keep its grip on a tight lead.

It was the Pirates first doubleheader sweep since April 29, 2023 at Washington. It was their first home doubleheader sweep since May 29, 2021 versus Colorado. Additionally, it was the first time that Pittsburgh won each leg of a doubleheader by one run since walk-off victories in both games on June 20,1983, vs. Chicago at Three Rivers Stadium.

More importantly, the two wins gave the Pirates a series victory over the first-place team in their division before they even took the field on Sunday. It would have been the perfect timing for a letdown spot, especially against a veteran team that rarely gets swept.

Sunday's Sweep

Instead, the Pirates beat the Brewers with an emphatic 14-5 victory. It sent the team into the All-Star Break with much-needed momentum and the continued confidence that they can be a playoff contender at the end of the season.

It was a perfect encapsulation of the much-improved offense that has helped turn around this team. After Sunday's game, they led Major League Baseball in runs scored - an unthinkable achievement just one year ago when they ranked 30th in runs scored.

On Sunday, the Pirates scored ten runs in the fourth inning. They scored seven runs before the Brewers recorded an out. Every Pirates starter had at least one hit in the game. The Buccos made the Brewers look like their pitchers were already on All-Star Break.

The starting pitcher for Pittsburgh, Paul Skenes, had a solid outing that gives Pirates fans hope he'll have a Cy Young-esque second half. He threw 5.1 innings, allowing two earned runs while striking out seven and walking one batter.

Skenes experienced a 40-minute break between innings when the Pirates scored ten in the fourth inning. This likely kept Skenes from going deeper into the game, as he admitted in a post-game interview that it was an uncomfortably long wait.

"It makes it real hard when you're sitting for that long, no matter what you're doing," said Skenes. "Ten run innings are cool, but it makes it tough to go back out there. Could be worse, though. It could be a three-pitch inning."

After the game, manager Don Kelly spoke about how there's mixed feelings when you go into the All-Star Break with such a performance.

"I'm happy to be going into the break," Kelly said. "When you get the offense going like that, you don't necassarily want to shut it down. But it will be a good break, and we'll be ready to come out on the other side [of the break]."

What's Next?

The Pirates join the MLB in All-Star weekend, where Paul Skenes and Braxton Ashcraft will head to the mound for the National League. Afterward, they return to regular season action against the Cleveland Guardians and New York Yankees.

With a 50-47 record heading into the All-Star break, Pittsburgh is still in the thick of the Wild Card race, and will look to keep momentum as they hunt for their first playoff berth since 2015.

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