Instant analysis: Pirate bats wake up, out-slug Angels in series-opening win

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 23, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

ANAHEIM, Calif. — At home games, Bailey Falter’s walkout song is ‘60s classic “California Dreamin’.”

In the Pirates’ first 2025 game in California, the SoCal starter got the sort of run support Pirates pitchers dream about.

The Pirates scored six runs before Falter was removed with lower back tightness in the fifth inning and managed a season-high 18 hits, defeating the Angels 9-3. The Pirates bullpen closed the game with five scoreless innings, including three perfect innings midway through the game from Chase Shugart and David Bednar.

18 hits are an indisputable positive, but it also could have — and perhaps should have — been more. The Pirates left 13 runners on base, grounding into three double plays and ran into another out on the bases. The Pirates scored three in the ninth, ending any doubt in the outcome and turning a save situation into a blowout.

The Pirates scored twice in the third inning, but as became a pattern, missed the opportunity to break the game open. Five of the first six batters reached as Angels starter Jose Soriano struggled with his command, walking two and giving up three singles. The bases were loaded for left fielder Tommy Pham, but Pham hit a slow grounder to short for an inning-ending double play.

Pittsburgh made no such mistake in the fourth. Center fielder Oneil Cruz and right fielder Bryan Reynolds both reached on singles before designated hitter Andrew McCutchen, on the seventh pitch of the at-bat, laced a three-run homer to left-center field.

The Pirates added another in the fifth on an infield single from shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa, but left runners on second and third.

Falter only threw 65 pitches before he was removed with the injury, throwing 44 for strikes. He started strong, but left a few pitches over the center of the plate in the third and fourth innings. One, a middle-middle slider, was hit into the bleachers by leadoff man Taylor Ward, while another was an RBI double down the left field line by center fielder Jo Adell. Falter gave up three runs in four innings, striking out five.

Reynolds clinched the win in the ninth with a two-RBI single. Pham robbed a homer for the final out, crashing into the left-field wall.

It was over when…

The Angels had their best chance to tie the game down 6-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Right-handed reliever Justin Lawrence walked two batters and threw a wild pitch before he was pulled for fellow right-hander Dennis Santana, who struck out designated hitter Jorge Soler for the third out.

On the mound

The relief behind Falter was excellent. Righty Chase Shugart threw two perfect innings, striking out three, followed by a 1-2-3 seventh from David Bednar. Lawrence and Santana combined for a scoreless eighth before lefty Ryan Borucki pitched the ninth.

At the plate

It was one of those days for Pittsburgh — and for only the second time this season, that’s said positively. Reynolds, Pham and Kiner-Falefa all had three hits, while Cruz, McCutchen and catcher Joey Bart each had two. Every spot in the batting order got a hit.

Most valuable player

With such an offensive outburst, it really could have been any Pirate. McCutchen gets the nod for starting the onslaught with his blast. He finished the game 2-for-5 with a walk and three RBIs. He was robbed of a double in the ninth inning when right fielder Mike Trout made a leaping catch on the warning track.

Up next

The Pirates and Angels meet again on Wednesday night at 9:38 p.m. in the second of a three-game series. Left-hander Andrew Heaney (1-1, 2.13 ERA), who pitched for the Angels from 2015 until 2021, will start for Pittsburgh. The Angels will counter with right-hander Jack Kochanowicz (1-2, 6.20). The game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh and broadcast on the radio on 93.7 The Fan.