Braxton Ashcraft, Ryan O'Hearn lead Pirates to dominant win and sweep of Orioles

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 5, 2026

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Some celebrate Easter Sunday with plastic eggs and candy. The Pittsburgh Pirates celebrated theirs with a broom.

The Pirates completed a three-game sweep of the Baltimore Orioles Sunday afternoon, winning 8-2 behind an early outburst and six strong innings from starter Braxton Ashcraft. They’ve now won five games in a row.

Former Oriole Ryan O’Hearn hit a two-run homer and a two-run double in the first two innings against right-hander Chris Bassitt, helping the Pirates to a 6-0 lead. Bassitt needed 62 pitches to get through two innings, allowing six earned runs on six hits and two walks.

Oneil Cruz added a two-run homer off lefty Cade Povich in the sixth, finishing the game 2 for 4 with two runs and three RBIs. Cruz has now hit four homers, the most in the National League, including three off lefties.

It added up to more than enough run support for Ashcraft, who turned in the best outing of his young career. He completed six innings for the second time overall (and second consecutive start), allowing just one run on four hits. He didn’t walk anyone and struck out a career-high eight batters.

Mason Montgomery and Jose Urquidy combined for the final three innings, with Urquidy throwing two scoreless frames in his home Pirates debut.

It was over when …

… O’Hearn’s double fell near the north side notch in the second, scoring Cruz and Brandon Lowe. With Ashcraft on the mound and the Pirates playing well, the 6-0 lead felt safe.

On the mound

If there was one negative, Montgomery struggled in the seventh. He showed off his velocity, striking out three, but he also allowed a run on three singles. He’s allowed multiple baserunners in four of his first five outings and a run or more in three of five.

At the plate

All nine Pirates reached on either a hit or a walk. Cruz and Spencer Horwitz both reached three times, the latter on a single and two walks. Jake Mangum started in left and singled and scored twice, including beating out a bunt in the second.

Konnor Griffin went 0 for 3 with a walk, though he did make a diving stop for the first web gem of his Pirates career.

Most valuable player

O’Hearn has 11 hits and 11 RBIs in his first eight games in Pittsburgh, something no other Pirate has matched. Just four others have had 11 RBIs in their first eight games, and only one since 1958: Reggie Sanders in 2003.

Up next

The San Diego Padres come to town for a three-game series beginning at 6:40 p.m. ET Monday. Bubba Chandler (0-0, 0.00) will make his first home start of the year against Padres right-hander German Marquez (0-1, 12.00).

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