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Pirates star Bryan Reynolds walks off Twins for 6-5 win
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- Pirates star Bryan Reynolds walks off Twins for 6-5 win
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Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Bryan Reynolds was the difference-maker Friday night, slugging a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to send the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Minnesota Twins at PNC Park.
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Pittsburgh entered the ninth trailing 5-4. Spencer Horwitz opened the inning with an infield single before Tyler Callihan entered as a pinch-runner. With one out, Reynolds connected on a sinker from Twins closer Taylor Rogers and drove it 422 feet into the left-field seats. The ball left his bat at 110 mph, his hardest-hit home run of the season and securing the Pirates' victory.
The win came after Pittsburgh had been held scoreless for five consecutive innings while trailing since the third inning. Reynolds continued to swing a hot bat after collecting eight hits in four games against the Chicago Cubs earlier in the homestand.
Oneil Cruz also supplied a highlight-reel moment. In the third inning, he launched a 450-foot solo home run that cleared the right-field stands and landed directly in the Allegheny River. It was only the seventh time a ball has reached the river on the fly since PNC Park opened in 2001. Cruz had previously accomplished the feat last season. His 12th homer of the year cut Minnesota's lead to 5-4.
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Jared Jones made his first major league start since Sept. 27, 2024, ending a 609-day absence after undergoing UCL surgery in 2025. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out Byron Buxton on three consecutive fastballs exceeding 100 mph to begin his outing. His first seven pitches all reached at least 100 mph. Jones allowed five runs on seven hits over 4 1/3 innings, walking two and striking out six while throwing 77 pitches, including 53 strikes.
The Twins built their lead behind home runs from Kody Clemens and Trevor Larnach , while Tristan Gray contributed a two-run single. The Pirates scored three runs in the first inning, aided by an RBI groundout from Cruz, an RBI single from Konnor Griffin, and a throwing error by third baseman Brooks Lee .
Wilber Dotel kept Pittsburgh within striking distance by tossing three scoreless innings, allowing one hit and striking out four. Gregory Soto followed with a perfect ninth inning to improve to 4-0. The comeback victory improved the Pirates to 1-22 in games when trailing after eight innings.
Related: Oneil Cruz's latest Pirates HR feat only done 6 other times in PNC Park history
Related: Pirates make massive Jared Jones injury roster move
