Ashcraft Tosses Complete Game, Pirates’ Bats Erupt in Win Over Marlins

Maybe the Pirates were letting out some frustrations on Thursday afternoon. Regardless, that one had to feel good.

Braxton Ashcraft needed only 85 pitches pitches to throw a complete game , and Pittsburgh’s bats erupted in a 13-1 win over the Marlins at loanDepot Park.

Scoring Plays

Top 5th, 2-0 PIT: Jake Mangum led off the inning with a triple and scored on a Tyler Phillips (3-6) balk. Jared Triolo followed with a solo home run to center. Marlins center fielder Jakob Marsee tried to make a leaping grab, but the ball bounced out of his glove and over the fence.

Top 6th, 5-0 PIT: The Pirates (59-64) loaded the bases and Mangum was hit by a pitch to force in a run. Triolo followed with a two-run single to left field off Cade Gibson to extend the lead.

Top 8th, 8-0 PIT: Rafael Flores Jr. hit a three-run home run to left field off John King. It was Flores’ second-career home run.

Top 9th, 13-0 PIT: The Pirates poured it on against position player Javier Sanoja. Jacob Gonzalez hit a two-run home run and Flores hit his second three-run shot of the game.

Bottom 9th, 13-1 PIT: Owen Cassie broke up Braxton Ashcraft’s ‘Maddux’ bid with a leadoff home run in the ninth. Ashcraft (12-5) had faced the minimum through eight innings.

Key Moments

The slumping Pirates needed something to go their way, and they received two breaks in the top of the fifth inning. After that, the bats came alive.

Player of the Game

Braxton Ashcraft dominated the Marlins (62-60) for his first-career complete game. He faced one batter over the minimum, allowed three hits, walked one and struck out 10. It was his third double-digit strikeout game this season.

Stat to Know

The last Pirate to throw a nine-inning complete game was Mitch Keller on May 6, 2024 against the Angels.

Notable Performances

• Braxton Ashcraft: 9.0 innings, three hits, one run, one walk, 10 strikeouts, 85 pitches/64 strikes
• Rafael Flores Jr.: 2 for 5, two home runs, six RBI, two runs
• Jared Triolo: 3 for 4, one home run, one walk, three RBI, three runs
• Jacob Gonzalez: 1 for 4, one home run, two RBI, one walk, two runs
• Jake Mangum: 3 for 4, one double, one triple, one RBI, three runs
• Esmerlyn Valdez: 2 for 5, two runs
• Nick Gonzales: 2 for 4, one walk, one run
• Spencer Horwitz: 2 for 6

Noteworthy

• Braxton Ashcraft became the first Pirate to reach 12 wins since Mitch Keller won 13 games in 2023.
• Jared Triolo’s home run was his second of the season and first since June 29 against the Phillies. His three RBI matched a career-high.
• Nick Gonzales’ 48 multi-hit games this season lead MLB.
• The Pirates placed C/1B Endy Rodríguez on the 10-day IL with left hip inflammation and optioned LHP Evan Sisk to Triple-A Indianapolis. INF Jack Brannigan and RHP Isaac Mattson were recalled from Triple-A.

Up Next

The Pirates return home to face the Red Sox on Friday night. RHP Bubba Chandler (5-8, 4.26 ERA) gets the start for Pittsburgh. LHP Jake Bennett (7-5, 3.17 ERA) will be on the bump for Boston. First pitch: 6:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh, MLB Network/93.7 The Fan.

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