Ryan O’Hearn celebrates 33rd birthday with grand slam as Pirates hold off Cubs
(O’Hearn delivers birthday grand slam to secure win over Cubs)
Ryan O’Hearn delivered the ultimate birthday present on Sunday, crushing a grand slam on his 33rd birthday to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-7 victory over the Chicago Cubs at PNC Park.
O’Hearn’s towering third-inning blast to center field broke the game open, extending Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-1 and helping the Pirates avoid a three-game series sweep. The home run marked the fourth grand slam of O’Hearn’s career and his second this season, while his 17th homer of the year matched a personal career high.
The Pirates’ offense erupted early against Cubs starter Jameson Taillon. Rookie Esmerlyn Valdez tied the game with a solo home run before catcher Shawn Ross, making his first major league start, followed with the first home run of his career. O’Hearn then capped the offensive surge by driving a fastball 406 feet over the center-field wall with the bases loaded.
Pittsburgh right-hander Braxton Ashcraft earned the win after allowing four runs over six innings while striking out five. The Cubs mounted a late comeback, highlighted by Seiya Suzuki’s two-run homer in the ninth inning that cut the deficit to one run, but reliever Mason Montgomery recorded the final outs to secure his second save.
The victory was especially satisfying for O’Hearn, who had been working through a recent slump after a torrid stretch earlier this month. Pirates manager Don Kelly praised the veteran’s steady leadership and professionalism, noting that O’Hearn’s work ethic never changed despite the offensive struggles.
The win improved Pittsburgh to 54-52 and kept the club in the National League Wild Card race heading into its next series against the Arizona Diamondbacks.
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(Sources: ESPN, ABC Sports, TribLive)
Posted by Richard Webster, Ace News Today
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