Andrew Heaney, Pirates blank Cardinals in series opener

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 30, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Although the opponent was in a different uniform, the Pirates continued their recent stellar play Monday evening, thumping the St. Louis Cardinals by a final score of 7-0 at PNC Park. Left-hander Andrew Heaney ended what has been a rough month of June on a high note, throwing 6 2/3 scoreless innings to earn the win, improving him to 4-7 on the season. Cardinals starter Erick Fedde suffered the loss, dropping his record to 3-8.

Spencer Horwitz started the scoring in the bottom of the first, smashing a leadoff home run in his first game as the club’s leadoff hitter. The blast was Horwitz’s second of the season, traveling 408 feet at an exit velocity of 106.7 mph. The Pirates maintained their one-run lead until the bottom of the fifth inning, when an offensive explosion — which has become a familiar occurrence over this homestand — unfolded.

Horwitz drove home the first two of what would eventually be six runs total on a double to left field. Nick Gonzales and Ke’Bryan Hayes also respectively delivered two-run knocks that frame, the former’s being a double to right field, the latter’s being a single to center. Tommy Pham capped off the rally with a run-scoring single to left field, giving Don Kelly’s club a 7-0 advantage.

With a comfortable lead and a pitcher well in control, the Pirates cruised to victory. The win marked their fourth-straight, tying their longest streak of the season.

It was over when …

The Pirates plated six runs in the fifth inning. The Pirates sent 10 men to the plate that frame, with each of the starting nine reaching base once. Seven Pirates tallied a hit in the bottom of the fifth. All of the damage came against Fedde.

Joey Bart led the hit parade off with a single to left field, which was followed by a bunt single by Isiah Kiner-Falefa. Both came home to score on Horwitz’s double, which sailed over the head of Cardinals’ left fielder Brendan Donovan.

Horwitz made a mental error the following at-bat, getting thrown out at third base on a grounder to short hit by Andrew McCutchen. But that mistake wouldn’t hurt the Pirates, as McCutchen came home to score two at-bats later on Gonzales’ double.

With two runners in scoring position and only one out, the Cardinals elected to intentionally walk Oneil Cruz. Their decision to face Hayes proved to be the wrong one, as the Pirates’ third baseman brought home Reynolds and Gonzales, blowing the contest wide open. Pham’s single the next at-bat added a cherry on top, scoring Cruz.

On the mound

Heaney took a no-hitter into the sixth inning, which was broken up by a two-out single from Victor Scott. The veteran southpaw dominated a competitive Cardinals lineup throughout his entire outing, surrendering just three hits and a walk, while striking out seven.

Heaney’s seven punchouts were tied for the second most he’s tallied in a start this season, with the most being 10 against the Yankees on April 6. The outing marked Heaney’s seventh quality start of the year.

Chase Shugart replaced Heaney with a runner on first and an out remaining in the top of the seventh. The right-hander continued to fill his mid-inning relief role well, successfully retiring Nolan Arenado to end the frame. Shugart returned to throw a scoreless eighth and ninth inning, securing the club’s eighth shutout win of the season.

At the plate

Horwitz’s leadoff homer was the first of his big-league career. He became just the third Pirates first baseman to do so in the regular season, joining John Jaso (three times in 2016) and Gary Redus (twice in 1990, once in 1991 and once in 1992).

As a club, the Pirates made the most of their scoring chances, finishing 5 for 10 with runners in scoring position. Each member of the Kelly’s starting lineup tallied at least one hit in their victory, with the team finishing at 11 hits total. Horwitz and Reynolds provided multi-hit efforts.

Most valuable player

Heaney and Horwitz share the honor. The former dominated on the mound, while the latter led the charge offensively, going 2 for 4 with a double, a home run and three RBIs.

Up next

The Pirates will continue their series against the Cardinals Tuesday. Paul Skenes (4-7, 2.12) will face Andre Pallante (5-4, 4.43) on the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m. ET.

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