Pittsburgh Pirates News & Notes 05/08/2026

The Pittsburgh Pirates currently hold a 21-17 record, placing them third in the NL Central. The club secured a series victory against the Arizona Diamondbacks with a 4-2 win on Thursday. They achieved this victory over the last 24 hours. Before heading to San Francisco, they celebrated their win. All your Pittsburgh Pirates News & Notes from Thursday action here!

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MLB Game Recap

Pittsburgh defeated Arizona 4-2 to take two out of three in the series, fueled by a decisive two-run fifth-inning rally. Mitch Keller (4-1) earned the win with a solid line of 6.0 IP. He allowed 2 ER, 4 H, 4 K, and 2 BB on 84 pitches. Keller retired ten consecutive batters at one point. Offensively, the Pirates hit solo home runs. These came from Brandon Lowe and Joey Bart. They also got two-out RBI singles. Ryan O’Hearn and Spencer Horwitz provided these. The bullpen was highly effective. Dennis Santana, Mason Montgomery, and Isaac Mattson bridged the gap to Gregory Soto. Soto retired the side in order in the ninth for his third save.

Standout Performer

Brandon Lowe led the charge, finishing 3-for-5 with 1 HR, 1 RBI, and 2 R. He started the game with a powerful 436-foot solo blast in the first inning. It was his second consecutive game with a first-inning home run. Lowe’s offensive production provided an immediate lead. His three-hit performance was the primary catalyst for an offense that outhit Arizona 7-5.

Key News & Notes

The Pirates placed right-handed reliever Chris Devenski on the 15-day injured list due to an undisclosed illness. In a corresponding move, right-hander Cam Sanders was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to bolster the bullpen. Center fielder Jake Mangum was a late scratch from Thursday’s lineup. He had left hamstring discomfort, which led Billy Cook to make his second start of the season at center.

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Farm Report

Triple-A (Indianapolis Indians): Rafael Flores Jr. went 2-for-5. He hit a walk-off single in a 5-4 extra-inning victory over Omaha. This capped a rally. Indy scored one in the tenth.
Double-A (Altoona Curve): Lonnie White Jr. collected two hits. He also hit a double. However, the Curve fell 4-3 to Chesapeake after a late two-run eighth-inning rally by the Baysox.

High-A (Greensboro Grasshoppers): Jhonny Severino recorded a 3-for-4 night with a double. However, Greensboro lost 6-4 to Greenville. The Drive offense hammered out 16 hits.
Single-A (Bradenton Marauders): Yorman Licourt had a massive game. He went 3-for-4 with a home run and 5 RBIs. However, the Marauders lost 9-6 to Dunedin. This happened following four team errors.
FCL Pirates: Abraham Brazoban went 2-for-4 with a triple and 3 RBIs in a 6-2 win over the FCL Braves. The pitching staff was dominant, allowing only one hit over nine innings.

Looking Ahead

The Pirates continue their West Coast trip tonight in San Francisco for the first of three against the Giants. Carmen Mlodzinski (2-2, 4.76 ERA) is the scheduled starter for Pittsburgh, facing Giants Robbie Ray (2-4, 2.95 ERA).

The Pirates have shown real resilience by bouncing back after a tough series opener to take the set in Arizona. What do you think?