Pirates complete sweep of first-place Tigers with 6-1 victory

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jul 23, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Pirates manager Don Kelly’s club started the second half of its season in perhaps the worst way possible, getting swept in lopsided fashion by the Chicago White Sox, the worst team in the American League. That effort, however, was followed by a dramatic turnaround.

Following back-to-back wins Monday and Tuesday, the Pirates secured a series sweep Wednesday afternoon over the Tigers, the junior circuit's winningest club, to the tune of a 6-1 victory at PNC Park.

Left-hander Bailey Falter snapped a string of poor outings, throwing seven innings of one-run ball to earn the win. He was the game’s winning pitcher, improving his record to 7-5. Troy Melton suffered the loss in his major league debut, dropping to 0-1.

Andrew McCutchen welcomed Melton to the big leagues with a home run to right-center field in the bottom of the first inning. Spencer Horwitz then blew the game open in the next frame, smashing a grand slam to center field, the first of his major league career. Oneil Cruz plated Pittsburgh’s sixth and final run, driving home Bryan Reynolds on a sacrifice fly in the bottom of the third.

The comfortable lead allowed Falter to attack Detroit's loaded lineup. The southpaw prevented any damage until the top of the seventh, when Matt Vierling singled home Spencer Torkelson for the Tigers’ first and only run. Carmen Mlodzinski concluded the victory with two scoreless innings of relief.

It was over when ...

... Horwitz cleared the bases with a grand slam. The homer, his third of the season, traveled 416 feet at an exit velocity of 106.1 mph.

On the mound

Falter surpassed the six-inning mark for the first time since May 31, snapping an eight-game stretch of going 5 2/3 innings or fewer. Efficiency was the story for him Wednesday afternoon, as he needed only 87 pitches to get through his seven complete frames.

Falter struck out a season-best eight batters, issued no walks and surrendered just four hits. The lone run he allowed was earned. The effort marked his seventh quality start of the season.

At the plate

Horwitz’s homer was the club’s lone hit with runners in scoring position. The Pirates tallied eight hits total, seven coming against Melton. Reynolds and Cruz both delivered multi-hit efforts.

Most valuable player

Horwitz, who finished the series 7 for 12 with a walk, two doubles, a home run, seven RBIs and four runs scored.

Up next

The Pirates are off Thursday and return to action Friday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. The teams will begin a three-game series at PNC Park. Right-hander Mike Burrows (1-3, 4.70 ERA) is slated to start for Pittsburgh. Arizona’s starting pitcher has yet to be announced. First pitch is scheduled for 6:40 p.m.