Bryan Reynolds’ Walk-Off Blast Lifts Pirates Past Twins in Ninth-Inning Rally

The Pittsburgh Pirates delivered one of their most dramatic finishes of the season on Friday night, rallying late to defeat the Minnesota Twins 6-5 at PNC Park behind a game-ending home run from Bryan Reynolds. Trailing entering the ninth inning, Pittsburgh completed a comeback that had been building throughout a back-and-forth contest.

Reynolds provided the decisive moment in the bottom of the ninth, launching a two-run home run off Twins closer Taylor Rogers that cleared the left-field seats. The blast traveled 422 feet and came off the bat at 110 mph, marking his hardest-hit home run of the season and sealing the Pirates’ victory.

The win capped a game in which Pittsburgh had been held scoreless for five consecutive innings after briefly falling behind in the middle frames. Despite multiple momentum swings, the Pirates remained within striking distance long enough to set up their late-game heroics.

The victory also continued Reynolds’ recent surge at the plate, as he carried momentum from a strong stretch against division opponents earlier in the homestand, solidifying his role as the team’s most consistent offensive presence.

1. Early Offense and Cruz’s Historic Blast

Pittsburgh’s offense struck early in the first inning, capitalizing on aggressive baserunning and timely contact to take an initial lead. Contributions came from multiple hitters, including an RBI groundout and an RBI single that helped set the tone. However, the game quickly shifted as Minnesota responded with power hitting of its own, eventually seizing control through a combination of home runs and situational hitting. The Twins built momentum in the middle innings and forced Pittsburgh into a chasing position. Oneil Cruz delivered one of the night’s most memorable highlights in the third inning, launching a 450-foot solo home run that landed in the Allegheny River. The blast marked only the seventh time a ball has reached the river on the fly since PNC Park opened in 2001. Cruz’s home run cut into the deficit and kept Pittsburgh within reach, providing a spark that would later prove crucial as the Pirates attempted to mount their late comeback.

2. Pitching Return and Game Flow Shifts

The game also marked a significant moment on the mound with Jared Jones making his first major league start since September 2024, returning after a lengthy recovery from UCL surgery. His outing drew early attention for velocity and intensity. Jones opened his appearance by striking out Byron Buxton using a series of fastballs that exceeded 100 mph, immediately signaling his return to high-level stuff. His early pitches consistently registered triple-digit velocity, setting an aggressive tone. Despite the strong start, Jones struggled to maintain consistency over the course of his outing. He allowed five runs on seven hits across 4 1/3 innings while walking two and striking out six, finishing his return start with 77 pitches. Minnesota capitalized on opportunities throughout the middle innings, using home runs from Kody Clemens and Trevor Larnach, along with a two-run single from Tristan Gray, to build their advantage and put pressure on Pittsburgh’s bullpen.

3. Late-Game Relief and Reynolds’ Clutch Finish

While the Twins appeared in control entering the late stages, Pittsburgh’s bullpen kept the game within reach. Wilber Dotel delivered three scoreless innings of relief, allowing just one hit and striking out four to stabilize the game. Gregory Soto followed with a perfect ninth inning, preserving the deficit and giving the Pirates one final opportunity in the bottom half of the frame. His outing set the stage for the offense to complete the comeback. In the ninth, Spencer Horwitz sparked the rally with an infield single before a pinch-running substitution added speed on the bases. That setup proved critical as Reynolds stepped to the plate in a high-leverage situation. Reynolds delivered immediately, driving a sinker from Rogers into the left-field seats for a walk-off home run that completed Pittsburgh’s comeback and improved the club’s rare success rate in games where it trails after eight innings.