Esmerlyn Valdez’s Huge Game Lifts Pirates to Comeback Win Over Brewers

PITTSBURGH — Esmerlyn Valdez hit a pair of home runs including a go-ahead grand slam to lift the Pirates to a 7-6 win over the Brewers at PNC Park in the first game of a doubleheader on Saturday afternoon.

Bottom 1st, 2-0 PIT: Brewers starter Brandon Sproat plunked two of the first three batters he faced, and Esmerlyn Valdez made him pay with an RBI single through the left side. The Pirates (48-47) tacked on another when Joey Ortiz made an error at third on a Nick Gonzales grounder, allowing Bryan Reynolds to score with two outs.

Top 2nd, 2-2: Braxton Ashcraft left an 0-2 sinker over the plate and Jake Bauers took advantage of the mistake with a two-run home run to right field to tie the game.

Bottom 3rd, 3-2 PIT: Valdez gave the Pirates the lead back with a two-out solo home run to center field. His eighth of the year traveled 421 feet.

Top 4th, 5-3 MIL: Cooper Pratt tied the game with an RBI double past the outstretched glove of the diving Bryan Reynolds in left-center field. Sal Frelick followed with a go-ahead two run home run to right field.

Top 7th, 6-3 MIL: William Contreras singled home Garrett Mitchell against Carmen Mlodzinski (6-3) to tack on another run for the Brewers (59-35).

Bottom 7th, 7-6 PIT: One swing from Valdez gave the Pirates the lead. The rookie right fielder hit an opposite-field grand slam off Aaron Ashby (12-2) to erase a three-run deficit. Valdez’s second homer of the game traveled 380 feet.

After the Brewers loaded the bases with one out in the top of the ninth, Gregory Soto got his 12th save of the season by getting Andrew Vaughn to bounce into a game-ending double play. Vaughn hit a grounder to third baseman Nick Gonzales, who stepped on third and threw home for the third out.

Esmerlyn Valdez’s first-career grand slam was part of his first-career multi-homer game.

Esmerlyn Valdez is batting .403 (25 for 62) with five doubles, one triple, seven home runs and 19 RBIs over his last 17 games dating back to June 19.

• Braxton Ashcraft: 5.0 innings, five hits, five runs, two walks, six strikeouts, 98 pitches/64 strikes

• Carmen Mlodzinski: 3.0 innings, three hits, one run, two walks, two strikeouts, 57 pitches/34 strikes

• Esmerlyn Valdez: 3 for 4, two home runs, six RBIs, two runs

• Henry Davis: 1 for 2, two walks, one run

Braxton Ashcraft: 5.0 innings, five hits, five runs, two walks, six strikeouts, 98 pitches/64 strikes

Carmen Mlodzinski: 3.0 innings, three hits, one run, two walks, two strikeouts, 57 pitches/34 strikes

Esmerlyn Valdez: 3 for 4, two home runs, six RBIs, two runs

Henry Davis: 1 for 2, two walks, one run

• Although he wasn’t as sharp as he’s been for most of this season, Braxton Ashcraft completed five innings. He’s gone at least five in 13 straight starts and

• The game was originally scheduled to be played on Friday night but was postponed due to inclement weather.

• On Friday, the Pirates recalled RHPs Antwone Kelly and Thomas Harrington from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHPs Hunter Stratton and Cam Sanders.

Although he wasn’t as sharp as he’s been for most of this season, Braxton Ashcraft completed five innings. He’s gone at least five in 13 straight starts and

The game was originally scheduled to be played on Friday night but was postponed due to inclement weather.

On Friday, the Pirates recalled RHPs Antwone Kelly and Thomas Harrington from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned RHPs Hunter Stratton and Cam Sanders.

Pirates RHP Bubba Chandler (3-8,4.82 ERA) makes his final start before the break in the second game of the doubleheader later today. LHP Shane Drohan (4-2, 2.97 ERA) will be on the mound for the Brewers. First pitch: 4:15 p.m. ET.