Chandler Shines Bright in Pirates Win Over Rays; Cruz’s Impressive Breaks Tie
PITTSBURGH — The Tampa Bay Rays entered Friday’s game with a six-game win streak, but the Pittsburgh Pirates, as has […] The post Chandler Shines Bright in Pirates Win Over Rays; Cruz’s Impressive Breaks Tie appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.
Photo provided by Eddie Provident PITTSBURGH — The Tampa Bay Rays entered Friday’s game with a six-game win streak, but the Pittsburgh Pirates, as has been the case since dropping the first two games of the season, refused to lose a second straight game. Bubba Chandler pitched a gem and Oneil Cruz hit a big home run to lift the Pirates (12-8) to a 5-1 win over the Rays (11-8) at PNC Park. Scoring Plays Bottom 2nd, 1-0 PIT: Marcell Ozuna singled, advanced to second and scored on Spencer Horwitz’s double into the right field corner off Nick Martinez (0-1).
Top 6th, 1-1: Junior Caminero evened the score with an RBI single off Bubba Chandler with two outs. Chandler Simpson, who scored on the play, singled and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Bottom 6th, 3-1 PIT: The Pirates took the lead right back in the bottom of the inning when Oneil Cruz lined a two-run home run off over the Clemente Wall in right field.
Bottom 8th, 5-1 PIT: Brandon Lowe padded the lead with a two-run double off the wall in right-center field against Yoendrys Gómez. Key Moments Bubba Chandler (1-1) escaped a two-on, two-out jam in the top of the sixth inning and the Pirates capitalized on a two-out chance in the bottom of the inning with Oneil Cruz’s home run on a 2-2 pitch. ONEIL CRUZ…WHERE DO I BEGIN?!
pic. twitter. com/ErBJqU1Uoa — Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 18, 2026 Player of the Game Bubba Chandler tied a career-high with six innings and had a season-low one walk.