PITTSBURGH — The Pittsburgh Pirates tied a franchise file by smashing seven house runs in a 14-2 demolition of the New York Mets on Friday evening — so many who the crew mentioned it ran out of fireworks.
Bryan Reynolds and Rowdy Tellez grew to become the primary teammates in main league historical past to every hit a number of homers together with a grand slam in the identical recreation. Reynolds additionally tied a profession excessive with six RBIs to proceed a surge that began with a 25-game hitting streak in June.
“What’s it, June thirty eighth?” Reynolds joked after a four-hit evening that boosted his batting common to .280.
All the Pirates’ 14 runs got here by way of the homer — their most runs scored with every thing from the lengthy ball in a recreation since no less than 1900.
“We hit so many house runs that we ran out of fireworks,” the Pirates posted on X. “We’re being severe.”
We hit so many house runs that we ran out of fireworks.
We’re being severe.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 6, 2024
Pirates rookie starter Paul Skenes (5-0) allowed two runs on 4 hits with a stroll and eight strikeouts in seven sturdy innings whereas his ERA ticked up barely to 2.12.
The mustachioed right-hander has struck out seven or extra batters in 9 of his first 10 begins, essentially the most ever by a pitcher over the primary 10 video games of his profession. Skenes has thrown 74 pitches of no less than 100 mph this season, greater than double anybody else within the majors.
But Skenes did not simply beat the Mets along with his warmth. The final of his 107 pitches was an 87 mph slider that Harrison Bader whiffed at, bringing simply the second sellout crowd of the season at PNC Park to its toes because the 6-foot-6 prime general choose within the 2023 draft made his solution to the dugout.
“That is why it is good to have 5 pitches,” Skenes mentioned. “As a result of if one’s not there, then we will pitch with the remainder of them. The fastball was completely not there early within the recreation. So made do with the opposite stuff.”
Pittsburgh’s struggling offense — because it appears to do often when Skenes is beginning — offered loads of cushion.
Reynolds hit a two-run homer from the left aspect off Luis Severino (5-3) within the fifth inning to place Pittsburgh in entrance. His grand slam — from the suitable aspect — got here in opposition to reliever Jake Diekman within the seventh.
It was the fifth time since 1900 {that a} Pirates participant homered from each side of the plate (Reynolds twice, Dale Sveum, Bobby Bonilla twice).
Tellez hit his grand slam throughout a six-run eighth that ended with New York catcher/designated hitter Luis Torrens getting the ultimate out. He additionally had a solo shot within the fourth to chop into New York’s early 2-0 lead. The Mets tied a membership file for house runs allowed in a recreation.
Michael A. Taylor had 4 hits, together with a homer. Jack Suwinski and Yasmani Grandal additionally went deep for the Pirates, who’ve struggled to generate offense a lot of the season, the primary cause Pittsburgh is under .500 (42-45) regardless of a beginning rotation that has the bottom ERA within the Nationwide League since June 1.
Skenes wasn’t notably sharp early however retired 11 of his remaining 12 batters to bolster his probabilities of making the NL All-Star crew when pitchers and reserves are named this weekend.
“I might like to be there,” Skenes mentioned. “However it’s clearly not my choice to make.”
ESPN Stats & Data and The Related Press contributed to this report.