Pittsburgh Pirates secure consecutive wins behind Ashcraft and Flores

The Pittsburgh Pirates have secured back-to-back victories following a dominant offensive and pitching stretch. On August 14, 2026, pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivered a historic performance against the Miami Marlins, throwing a nine-inning complete game with only 85 pitches. Ashcraft struck out 10 batters and allowed just one earned run, making him one of only three pitchers in the last decade to complete at least nine innings with 85 or fewer pitches. The Pirates won that matchup 13-1, fueled by two three-run home runs from rookie Rafael Flores Jr.

The Pirates continued their momentum on Friday night with an 8-4 win over the Boston Red Sox. Rafael Flores Jr. extended a remarkable streak by homering in three consecutive plate appearances, while Brandon Lowe added a three-run home run. Bubba Chandler earned the win, pitching five innings.

However, the victory came with a setback as third baseman Nick Gonzales was forced from the game after being struck in the helmet by a pitch from Jovani Moran. Gonzales, who holds a .307 batting average, is currently listed as day-to-day with a facial contusion.