MILWAUKEE -- The Pirates went into their series opener against the Brewers on Monday night needing a pick-me-up from their bullpen, and their relief corps came through.
Braxton Ashcraft pitched three strong innings in his first Major League start, Tommy Pham (two-run home run in the fourth) and Nick Gonzales (first career five-hit game) led the way for the offense and Isaac Mattson and David Bednar combined for 2 2/3 shutout frames to close out the 5-4 win at American Family Field.
Here were three keys to Pittsburgh’s series-opening victory:
Ashcraft delivers in first MLB start
For the first time in 80 games this season, a Pirates starter didn’t record 10 outs before exiting the game.
That, however, wasn’t the fault of Ashcraft, who had a strong night on the mound. He flew through his three innings of work, allowing just one hit, striking out two and throwing strikes on 28 of his 35 offerings.
The 25-year-old right-hander threw 40 pitches in relief Friday, so a long outing wasn’t to be expected. However, that low total helped extend his night.
“The efficiency got him three [innings]. He wanted four,” manager Don Kelly said with a laugh. “But he did more than we could've asked coming into today. He was outstanding.”
Ashcraft made his MLB debut May 26, and despite starting 69 of 71 games in the Minors, he has pitched exclusively out of Pittsburgh’s bullpen over the past month. He has found success in that role, though, posting a 1.54 ERA in seven appearances before Monday.
Ashcraft has filled various roles this season, whether that’s handling bulk innings in relief or entering in high-leverage spots. With mostly experience as a starter, though, getting his first MLB start under his belt was a great feeling.
“Getting the opportunity that I've wanted for a long time to start a game, and help our rotation out,” Ashcraft said. “It's cool to do it and cool to go out and buy myself an extra inning. But, yeah, just being able to go out and cover ... three scoreless, it's fun.”
Gonzales’ career night at the plate
Pittsburgh never trailed Monday, and that began with Gonzales’ RBI double in the first inning.
That was just the start of his impressive game, though. Gonzales singled in the third, fifth and seventh innings, giving him four hits in one game for the first time in the Majors.
And that wasn’t all. Gonzales came up one more time in the top of the ninth and ripped a double off the wall in center, giving himself a 5-for-5 night to go with a pair of RBIs.
Previously an MLB Pipeline Top 100 Prospect, the 26-year-old Gonzales played just one game this season before landing on the shelf with a nondisplaced left ankle fracture. He finally returned June 3, and in 19 games since, he has trended way up offensively.
After posting a .616 OPS in 2023 and a .709 OPS last year, Gonzales now has an .843 OPS and a .320 batting average in ‘25. Four of his past five games have featured multiple hits.
“For me, he's using the middle of the field, he's driving the ball the other way, barreling balls up,” Kelly said. “Just a tremendous approach. He's a great hitter, man, and to see the way that he's continuing to develop, continuing to get better, he's doing a remarkable job.”
Pham gets on the board
Through Pham’s first 52 games of the season, he had yet to go deep.
That was part of his overall struggles, as he was hitting .194 with a .497 OPS after the games of June 19. Still, not having a homer this year stuck out.
Pham had a 3-for-3 game Sunday with two doubles and three RBIs, and he revealed to reporters after the game that his contacts had been an issue this season. However, he did add that he’s “pretty optimistic going forward now.”
Pham’s big blast in the fourth might be an example of that. With a runner on first and the Pirates clinging to a 1-0 lead, Pham attacked a first-pitch cutter up and away.
The ball landed a Statcast-projected 416 feet away and over the center-field wall, giving him his first homer since Sept. 10 -- and a sense of relief.
“I got tired of seeing a goose egg on the scoreboard,” Pham said.
It’s only two games of good results -- he’s still hitting .216 with a .565 OPS -- so Pham still has more to do to keep turning things around. But perhaps his performance over the past two games is a sign of more good days ahead.
“He's continued to grind, hasn't made excuses with everything that's been going on,” Kelly said. “I'm just glad that he's getting the results right now.”