Historic Night of Homers Exhausts Pirates’ Fireworks Supply
PITTSBURGH – In a performance not seen in nearly 77 years, the Pirates’ explosive home run spree against the Mets on Friday exhausted their celebratory fireworks supply.
The fireworks began in the fourth inning when Rowdy Tellez launched a homer to right field. The excitement only grew as five more unanswered Pirates home runs followed. The peak came when Tellez hit a grand slam into the bullpen in the eighth inning, capping off a seven-homer night for the home team in a decisive 14-2 victory over the Mets at PNC Park.
“It’s a great offensive game for us,” said Bryan Reynolds, who contributed two home runs, including a grand slam. “I think we can build off it and keep it rolling, just keep going strong for the rest of the year.”
The seven home runs tied a franchise record, matching performances from May 26, 2023, at Seattle; Aug. 20, 2003, at St. Louis; Aug. 16, 1947, against the Cardinals; and June 6, 1894, at Boston. This game marked the first time the Pirates hit multiple grand slams in a seven-homer performance and the first time they hit two grand slams in a single game since April 16, 1996.
The most crucial homer came from Reynolds in the fifth inning. After Tellez and Jack Suwinski erased an early 2-0 deficit with solo shots, Reynolds broke a tie with a three-run homer to right-center field. Two innings later, Reynolds added a grand slam off lefty Jake Diekman, solidifying his standout performance.
Reynolds has been on fire, particularly in June, jokingly extending the month with his exceptional play. “What is it, June 38th?” he quipped.
Tellez, despite conceding that it was likely Reynolds’ night, also had an impressive game with multiple hits and a grand slam. Together, they made MLB history as the first pair of teammates to hit multiple home runs and a grand slam each in the same game.
The offensive barrage didn’t stop with Reynolds and Tellez. Suwinski, overcoming a challenging first half of the season, hit a home run and smashed another ball at 106.8 mph. Yasmani Grandal, swinging better of late according to manager Derek Shelton, rewarded the team with a double and a home run. Michael A. Taylor, who had struggled in June, contributed a homer as part of a four-hit night.
“Michael was outstanding,” Shelton praised. “Four hits, one to center, three to right, including the homer. It’s good to see him staying on the ball. Really impressive.”
Getting contributions from Suwinski, Grandal, and Taylor could help lengthen the lineup and improve offensive consistency. Tellez emphasized their importance, noting their defensive contributions and game-calling skills.
Paul Skenes also shone, pitching seven innings of two-run ball with eight strikeouts, bolstering the team’s performance.
The energy at PNC Park was palpable, with a sellout crowd of 37,037 cheering until the end. “You could feel the energy in the ballpark tonight,” said Shelton. “Even when it was 14-2, they were still on their feet. That was really cool.”
This historic night not only showcased the Pirates’ power but also hinted at a promising second half of the season.