Pittsburgh Pirates beat Reds 9-4 as O'Hearn homers twice, miss Okamoto and manage injuries

Ryan O'Hearn hit two home runs and drove in four runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a potential series sweep, defeating the Cincinnati Reds 9‑4 at PNC Park. O'Hearn’s 421‑foot solo shot gave Pittsburgh a 5‑4 lead in the fifth inning, and after a rain‑delayed eighth he added a three‑run blast. Esmerlyn Valdez also homered, marking his third straight game with a long ball. Mitch Keller earned the win for the Pirates, allowing four runs over six innings.

Earlier in the offseason, the Pirates were unable to sign Japanese power hitter Kazuma Okamoto, who instead agreed to a four‑year, $60 million contract with the Toronto Blue Jays. Okamoto, a former NPB star, has begun a strong MLB start with Toronto.

Injuries also featured in the Pirates’ news cycle. Shortstop Konnor Griffin was activated from the injured list after a forearm strain, returning to the roster ahead of a series against the Reds. Center fielder Oneil Cruz, still recovering from a fractured left hand, moved his rehab to Bradenton, Florida, with the team hoping to see further progress by the All‑Star break.