Oneil Cruz’s Two‑Run Blast Turns Pirates Into Wild‑Card Spoiler Over Reds

How the Pirates Pulled Off the Upset

When the Pirates walked into Great American Ball Park on Tuesday night, most fans expected another routine loss. After all, Pittsburgh sits at the bottom of the NL Central with a 68‑89 record and a miserable 24‑52 road mark. Yet baseball loves a good spoiler, and the Pirates reminded everyone why the sport is never over until the final out.

The engine that fired the offense was a blistering four‑run second inning. It began with Jack Suwinski’s double, which brought home Jack’s teammate after Nick Yorke’s single. Yorke, already on first, sprinted home on a follow‑up double by Alexander Canario, leaving the score at 2‑0. The final piece fell into place when Oneil Cruz launched a two‑run homer — his 20th of the season — to silence the crowd and put Pittsburgh up 4‑0.

That swing did more than pad the Pirates’ run total; it forced the Reds into a defensive mindset. Even though Elly De La Cruz answered with a two‑run shot of his own later that inning, the damage was done. The home run ended a 43‑game homer drought for the Reds, but it also left the game at a 4‑2 balance that never shifted.

Beyond the big hits, the Pirates’ bullpen played a quiet but crucial role. Rookie Hunter Barco, making his major‑league debut, entered in the sixth inning with runners on first and third. He induced a force‑out grounder from Matt McLain, securing his first career win. In the ninth, Dennis Santana closed the door with his 15th save, sealing a victory that will be remembered more for its timing than its margin.

A controversial moment almost changed the story. In the fourth inning, Suwinski seemed to dive and snag a foul ball off the left‑field line that would have ended Will Benson’s at‑bat. The Reds challenged, the call was overturned, and Benson struck out anyway. A tiny slice of drama, but it underscored how every replay can sway a game’s momentum.

What the Loss Means for the Reds

The defeat hurts Cincinnati more than it helps Pittsburgh. The Reds entered the game riding a season‑high five‑game winning streak and sitting at 80‑77, just a game behind the New York Mets for the third NL wild‑card spot. After the loss, they fell a full game back, while the Mets added another win in Chicago, widening the gap.

Offensively, the Reds managed only five hits and grounded into three consecutive inning‑ending double plays. That string of double plays is a painful reminder that the team’s small‑ball approach has its limits when it comes to generating runs late in the season.

Pitching will be the next big test. Cincinnati is set to send Hunter Greene (7‑4, 2.74 ERA) to the mound on Wednesday, hoping his strong numbers can silence the Pirates’ bats. Across the rubber, Pittsburgh will counter with Paul Skenes (10‑10, 2.03 ERA), a veteran starter who has been remarkably steady all year. The duel could determine whether the Reds stay in the wild‑card hunt or slide farther down the standings.

For Cincinnati’s fans, the game was a mixed bag. Elly De La Cruz’s long‑awaited homer provided a moment of joy, snapping a personal drought and showing that the team still has firepower. Still, the overall narrative was one of missed opportunities, especially after holding a 4‑0 lead heading into the bottom of the second.

Looking ahead, the series continues to be a microcosm of the NL wild‑card race: tight, unpredictable, and full of sudden twists. If the Reds can rebound against Skenes, they’ll keep the pressure on the Mets. If they falter, the Mets could pull a comfortable buffer, leaving Cincinnati scrambling for every win in the final stretch.

Meanwhile, the Pirates will savor this win as a morale booster. Even though their season is effectively over, moments like these remind a club and its supporters that any game can be a platform for a player’s first win, a rookie’s debut, or a memorable swing that changes a night’s story. And for the fans who braved the cold in Cincinnati, the question now is simple: Can the Reds rewrite this script before the regular season shuts the doors?