Oneil Cruz smashed a two-run homer during a big sixth inning, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates over the Colorado Rockies 5-3 on Sunday, securing a series victory.
Cruz hammered a slider from Ryan Feltner (1-3) a whopping 429 feet to right-center field, bouncing his fifth home run of the season off the roof of a bar beyond the stands, putting Pittsburgh in the lead 4-3. This game marked Cruz’s first with multiple extra-base hits in 35 games this season, adding to his impact.
Before sending a ball into the Allegheny River in the ninth inning of a 3-2 series-opening loss on Friday, Cruz had managed only two doubles in 17 games between homers.
“I think the one thing we have to realize with Oneil is he does a lot of things that look easy,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “So, at times, he gets the moniker of, like, ‘The body language is bad.’ He cares. I mean, he’s locked in.
“But I do think getting a couple of hits, having a couple of good games, your confidence will tick back up.” Following the homer, Rowdy Tellez smashed a double to right and later scored on a single from Jack Suwinski.
Feltner’s day started with a single to Connor Joe and a double to Bryan Reynolds in the first four pitches, with Joe eventually scoring on a grounder from Ke’Bryan Hayes.
The Pirates won the last two games of the three-game series, marking their first series victory since they won two out of three against Baltimore from April 5-7. The Rockies, who have lost seven of their last eight games, are yet to win a series.
“We couldn’t get the crucial hit during the game a few times,” said Colorado manager Bud Black. “That’s been tough for our offense. At some point, we need to get a few guys hitting well.”
Luis Ortiz (2-1) pitched perfectly for 1 2/3 innings after replacing Pittsburgh starter Bailey Falter with one out in the sixth inning. David Bednar secured his sixth save, allowing a two-out double from Sean Bouchard before striking out Jake Cave in the ninth.
Jacob Stallings and Bouchard gave Colorado a 3-0 lead with consecutive home runs off Falter in the second inning. Stallings drove in two runs with a 414-foot shot into center field, while Bouchard sent a 400-foot blast into the left-field bleachers.
Falter surrendered three runs on six hits. “I wish I could have a couple of pitches back,” Falter said. “These guys are good hitters. They’re all here for a reason, just like us. … After the third inning, I settled down pretty well and felt like we did a pretty good job.”
Cruz doubled off the top of the Clemente Wall in right field with one out in the fourth inning, allowing Hayes to score the Pirates’ first run when Tellez grounded back to Feltner, who had allowed only one hit through three innings.
