PHILADELPHIA — Despite their overall offensive production, the Pirates have experienced issues this season hitting with runners in scoring position.
In the finale of a four-game series in Philadelphia on Thursday, they turned to magic for help.
Esmerlyn Valdez, a rookie nicknamed “The Magician,” came up clutch in several situations and drove in three runs during a 6-1 victory over the Phillies at Citizens Bank Park, ensuring a series split.
Appearing in just his 19th MLB game, Valdez drove in runs in the fifth (single), seventh (triple) and eighth (sacrifice fly), while the Jared Jones-Carmen Mlodzinski pairing — apparently back together again — combined for seven inning of one-run ball.
Jake Mangum finished with three hits, including a double, and scored twice. Nick Gonzales had three hits, including a ninth-inning homer. Endy Rodriguez went deep, too, as the Pirates improved to 44-44 ahead of a weekend series in Washington at Nationals Park.
They’re now 21-22 on the road this season after going 27-54 away from PNC Park in 2025.
Gregory Soto and Mason Montgomery finished the game to give the Pirates some rare, smooth sailing from their bullpen. But the big story was Valdez, who has been terrific since returning to the big leagues in mid-June.
After Pittsburgh left nine through the first six innings, Valdez gave the Pirates the lead with his first MLB triple in the seventh inning. It came on a 1-0 sinker located middle-away. Valdez scorched it at 112.7 mph for his three-bagger at any level since July 26, 2025, when he was with Double-A Altoona.
That gave the Pirates a 2-1 lead, and Gonzales upped it to 3-1 with his single up the middle two batters later. Another sinker, this time in a 1-2 count. Gonzales got enough of his barrel on the up-and-in pitch to give his team some breathing room.
For two-thirds of this one, Valdez's RBI single in the fifth inning was their only clutch hit of the afternoon. Valdez hit a 1-2 sinker hard back up the middle to continue his recent hot streak.
He now hits in nine of 10 (batting .485), collecting four doubles, a triple, four home runs and nine RBIs during that stretch.
Rodriguez continued his recent run (.326 with seven extra-base hits over his last 14 prior to Thursday) with a solo homer in the eighth, extending Pittsburgh's lead to 4-1.
Phillies reliever Lou Trivino left a full-count fastball over the middle of the plate. Rodriguez hit it 395 feet to center for his second of the series and fifth of the season — all coming since June 2.
Valdez added a sacrifice fly in the eighth before Gonzales led off the ninth with a home run, connecting on a sweeper left over the middle of the plate.
This was surely the type of bounce-back start Jones was eying after he expressed frustration following his last outing, when he allowed four runs (three earned) in 4 2/3 innings last Saturday against the Reds.
Nobody lit him up. He actually struck out a season-high six over four innings, allowing just one run.
Jones threw his slider harder than usual and commanded it well. He also stayed out of the middle of the plate. One of his only mistakes was walking the No. 9 hitter, catcher Rafael Marchan, on four pitches in the third inning. Marchan entered this one with a .148 on-base percentage.
Jones paid for the mistake when Bryce Harper doubled the opposite way on an 0-1 changeup that was on the outer half to give the Phillies a 1-0 lead in the third inning.
After throwing 43 pitches in the second and third innings combined, Jones threw just 12 in the fourth, though manager Don Kelly probably wasn’t willing to push it given the heat.
Mlodzinski followed with three scoreless frames, allowing two hits and nothing more. It's why the Pirates feel this role can be effective. The right-hander kept his team in it, allowing time for the bats to come around.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.