Pirates Outlast Phillies in a Close 8-7 Victory at PNC Park

In a closely contested game at PNC Park, the Pittsburgh Pirates edged out the Philadelphia Phillies with an 8-7 victory. The Pirates now stand at 49-48 for the season, while the Phillies' record moves to 62-35. Both teams showcased their offensive capabilities, each tallying 13 hits throughout the game, but it was the home team that ultimately secured the win.

The Pirates opened strong with three runs in the first inning and maintained their momentum to secure two crucial runs in both the seventh and ninth innings. Notably, Bryan Reynolds had an impressive performance, hitting .600 and contributing significantly to his team's offensive efforts. Oniel Cruz also stood out by matching Reynolds' batting average of .600 and adding power with a slugging percentage of 1.0.

Andrew McCutchen's batting was another highlight for Pittsburgh, achieving a remarkable average of .667 and an on-base percentage of .800. Despite not driving in any runs, his ability to get on base played a pivotal role in building scoring opportunities for his team.

On the pitching side, Carmen Mlodzinski earned a win from the bullpen without allowing any earned runs and maintaining an ERA of 0.0 across his appearance. Colin Holderman also contributed effectively from the bullpen with an ERA of 0.0 and striking out opponents at a rate of 18 per nine innings pitched.

The Philadelphia Phillies put up a strong fight as well, opening with three runs in their first inning but were unable to maintain their lead against Pittsburgh's persistent offense. Their efforts were highlighted by scoring two runs in both fourth and fifth innings but fell just short as they couldn't capitalize further against Pittsburgh's pitchers towards the end.

Looking ahead, fans can anticipate another exciting matchup as The Pirates are set to host The Phillies once again at PNC Park on July 20th at 6:40 PM EDT. This upcoming game promises more action-packed baseball and will be broadcasted on NBCS-PH for fans looking to catch every moment live from Pittsburgh.