Bryan Reynolds' two-homer game, Brandon Lowe's blast in the ninth inning lead Pirates to comeback win against Athletics

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 17, 2026

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

WEST SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Tuesday’s first inning was a continuation of Monday’s nightmare. Bryan Reynolds and Brandon Lowe woke the Pirates up.

Reynolds went 4 for 5 with two homers, three runs and three RBIs; Lowe hit a go-ahead home run in the ninth; and the Pirates responded to a rough Monday loss with a 6-5 win on Tuesday night against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park.

The Pirates are once again .500 (37-37) after falling below it for the first time since March on Monday. They’ll play for the series on Wednesday.

Mitch Keller couldn’t have started his outing much worse, walking three of the first four batters. In the midst of one of the worst stretches of his career, Tuesday threatened to be yet another rough outing.

He looked to have gotten out of his self-inflicted jam when Spencer Horwitz made a diving snag of Zack Gelof’s two-out grounder. Instead, Horwitz’s throw from a knee sailed over Keller, allowing all three runs to score. Trail runner Jacob Wilson scored via obstruction from third baseman Nick Gonzales, although Brandon Lowe also blocked the plate while covering home and Wilson slid around the tag anyways.

Lawrence Butler doubled home Gelof three pitches later, putting the Pirates in a 4-0 hole.

But Keller seemed to settle in. After a 38-pitch first, Keller needed just seven pitches for a 1-2-3 second, seven more for a 1-2-3 third and nine to work around a single in the fourth. He was pulled after allowing a solo homer to Gelof in the sixth, yet turned what looked like a nightmare into his longest outing in his last four.

While he kept the game steady, Reynolds dragged the Pirates back in. He singled and scored on a Gonzales groundout in the fourth; brought the Pirates within two with a solo shot just over center fielder Henry Bolte’s outstretched glove in the sixth; then tied the game with a two-run, opposite field shot just over the right field wall against lefty Hogan Harris in the seventh.

Lowe’s homer came on an elevated 2-1 slider from Elvis Alvarado. He was 1 for his last 18 before the blast.

It was over when…

Gregory Soto allowed two one-out singles in the ninth and fell to a three-ball count against Tyler Soderstrom, but managed to strike him out. Wilson’s fly ball was caught by Jake Mangum to end the game and strand the winning run on first.

On the mound

Despite the line, Keller was much improved over his last few outings. He can’t walk the bases loaded, yet would have gotten out for it if not for Horwitz’s throwing error. (Because the play was ruled a Gelof single and Butler immediately doubled, the first three runs were earned).

Keller struck out seven, a season-high.

Evan Sisk pitched an inning in relief following Keller, retiring three of four apart from a pinch-hit Alika Williams double. Yohan Ramirez stranded Williams at third.

At the plate

Ryan O’Hearn went 3 for 5 with a double and a run scored. Tyler Callihan added two singles.

Besides Reynolds, the Pirates did little in five innings against A’s starter Jack Perkins. They chased him in the sixth, when Reynolds started the inning with a double and O’Hearn homered.

Bucs bites

• Marcell Ozuna was out of the Pirates’ lineup for a fifth consecutive game on Tuesday. He’s appeared in just five of the Pirates’ last 18 games. “He's been a total pro through it and has continued to work hard to get better and get back on track,” manager Don Kelly said. “Hopefully it'll turn the corner when he gets the next opportunity.”

• Reynolds attempted to challenge a pitch below the zone in the first inning, but his attempt was ruled to be too late.

• Endy Rodriguez went 1 for 4 with an RBI single and has continued to produce offensively. Joey Bart is rehabbing at Triple-A Indianapolis. Kelly said a decision could be forced "hopefully in short order,” once Bart returns, and questioned the feasibility of carrying three catchers. Henry Davis, batting .135, has made one appearance in five games since returning from the paternity list.

Up next

The Pirates and Athletics will play for the series on Wednesday at 9:40 p.m. EST. Braxton Ashcraft (5-3, 3.30 ERA) will start for the Pirates, while the A’s have not yet announced their starter. The game will be televised locally on SportsNet Pittsburgh and nationally on MLB Network. It will be broadcast on the radio on 93.7 The Fan.