The home run was a glaring weakness with the Pirates in 2025. A year later, it has unquestionably become a strength.
With Pittsburgh looking to avoid a series sweep Sunday against the Reds at PNC Park, it again relied on the long ball, getting two home runs from Ryan O’Hearn and one apiece from Tyler Callihan and Esmerlyn Valdez en route to a 9-4 victory.
It was the third multi-homer game of O’Hearn’s career and the third time this season the Pirates have had four homers in a game.
Following a 65-minute rain delay, O’Hearn allowed everyone to breathe easier in the eighth with a three-run shot on a curveball low in the zone. Valdez then showcased his impressive raw power, cranking one to right-center that left his bat at 109.8 mph and traveled 461 feet.
Callihan hit his, a three-run shot, in a four-run second for the Pirates, who improved to 42-42 with the win.
The Pirates now have 105 home runs in 84 games, which represents a full-season pace of 203. That would shatter the franchise’s single-season mark of 171 in 1999. Brandon Lowe leads the way with 20, already matching Oneil Cruz’s team-high total from a year ago just past the season’s midpoint.
Furthermore, the Pirates have already hit 60 home runs at home, trouncing the number they put over the fence at PNC Park in 2025: 49.
On the homestand, as the Pirates went 3-3 against the Mariners and Reds, Pittsburgh batters collected 11 home runs across those six games, most among any MLB team.
O’Hearn’s 105.9-mph blast put the Pirates ahead for good, as he crushed a 2-2 cutter up 421 feet to right field for his 12th of the season.
In his last 18 home games, O’Hearn is hitting .324 (22 for 68) with six home runs and 15 RBIs, which included a season-high four hits Wednesday against Seattle.
The Pirates should feel fortunate they got the Callihan and O’Hearn homers because they squandered several chances to increase their offensive output in a game that was stopped for rain prior to the bottom of the eighth.
They loaded the bases three times in a four-inning span, twice with nobody out, but came away with zero runs. The first time, Konnor Griffin bounced to short, Lowe struck out, and Bryan Reynolds grounded out to third to end the fourth.
O’Hearn flew out to right to end the sixth and strand three, a departure from his season trend of hitting .344 with runners in scoring position before Sunday’s series finale.
In the seventh, after a stretch where Reds pitchers walked six of seven, Henry Davis popped out to short, and Griffin hit into an inning-ending double play.
Mitch Keller started, worked six innings and improved to 6-5, allowing four runs (three earned) on five hits with one walk and four strikeouts.
The 79-pitch outing continued a recent stretch that has seen Keller attack more, the righty filling up the zone and challenging hitters. He has a 3.64 ERA in that span (7 earned runs allowed in 17 1/3 innings) with six walks and 15 strikeouts.
Carmen Mlodzinski contributed two innings of scoreless relief before the rain came, and Dennis Santana finished it off.
Valdez’s heater continued in this one with his RBI double in the second inning, connecting on a slider Reds starter Brady Singer left over the middle of the plate. He’s now hitting .500 (9 for 18) with three doubles and three home runs over his past six games.
Callihan then upped Pittsburgh’s lead to 4-0 with a three-run shot, continuing the success he’s experienced at PNC Park this season. Getting a 1-0 sinker middle-in, Callihan turned and blasted the pitch 412 feet to right at 107 mph.
Over his past 12 home games prior to Sunday, Callihan was hitting .308 with a double, two triples, two home runs and seven RBIs.
The lead would not last long, however, as the Reds capitalized on a few Pirates mistakes.
Lowe made an error to open the third before left fielder JJ Bleday lined an elevated fastball from Keller into center for a two-run double.
The next inning, Keller’s leadoff walk scored when Stephenson doubled on a 1-0 slider that was left over the middle of the plate.
Second baseman Edwin Arroyo tied the game, 4-4, when he put a good swing on a changeup down in the zone, lining it to right.
Bryan Reynolds two walks, extending his on-base streak to 33 games. That’s the longest for a Pirate since Brian Giles had a 35-game run in 2001.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH.