McCutchen hits 3-run homer, Pirates get 18 hits for first time since 2023 and beat Angels 9-3

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates had 18 hits for the first time in two years in a 9-3 win over the Los Angeles Angels on Tuesday night that stopped a three-game losing streak.

Bryan Reynolds and Isiah Kiner-Falefa each had three hits with two RBIs as the Pirates won the opener of a three-game series. The 18 hits were the Pirates' most since April 19, 2023, at Colorado, according to the Elias Sports Bureau.

Pirates starter Bailey Falter left after four innings with lower back tightness.

Chase Shugart (1-0) pitched two hitless innings with three strikeouts to win his first major league decision as the Pirates improved to 9-15.

Taylor Ward homered and Jo Adell had an RBI double for the Angels, who lost for the sixth time in eight games and dropped back to .500 at 11-11.

José Soriano (2-3) allowed five runs and eight hits in 3 1/3 innings, one start after giving up a career-high 10 hits at Texas.

Pittsburgh took a 2-0 lead in the third inning on RBI singles from Joey Bart and Ke’Bryan Hayes. Ward hit his sixth home run in the bottom half and McCutchen hit his 321st homer in the bottom half for a 5-1 lead.

Falter struck out Kyren Paris to strand a runner at second base in the fourth, his final batter.

McCutchen’s 237th career home runs with the Pirates moved him three behind Roberto Clemente for third place, Willie Stargell leads with 475, followed by Ralph Kiner with 301.

Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (1-1, 2.13 ERA) starts Wednesday night against his former team, which sends RHP Jack Kochanowicz (1-2, 6.20) to the mound.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Los Angeles Angels second baseman Kyren Paris, right, throws to first base to complete the double play as Pittsburgh Pirates' Jared Triolo slides into second base during the eighth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Los Angeles Angels' Jorge Soler looks on after striking out during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Isiah Kiner-Falefa (7) flips his bat after hitting an RBI double during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Adam Frazier celebrates with teammates in the dugout after scoring on an RBI double by Isiah Kiner-Falefa during the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Ryan Borucki (43) throws to a Los Angeles Angels batter during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Oneil Cruz celebrates with third baseman Ke'Bryan Hayes after defeating the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Chase Shugart (55) reacts after a strikeout during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen, left, celebrates with catcher Joey Bart after the Pirates defeated the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen reacts after the Pirates defeated the Los Angeles Angels in a baseball game in Anaheim, Calif., Tuesday, April 22, 2025. (AP Photo/Jessie Alcheh)

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) — Richard “Dick” Codey, a former acting governor of New Jersey and the longest serving legislator in the state's history, died Sunday. He was 79.

Codey’s wife, Mary Jo Codey, confirmed her husband’s death to The Associated Press.

“Gov. Richard J. Codey passed away peacefully this morning at home, surrounded by family, after a brief illness,” Codey's family wrote in a Facebook post on Codey's official page.

"Our family has lost a beloved husband, father and grandfather -- and New Jersey lost a remarkable public servant who touched the lives of all who knew him," the family said.

Known for his feisty, regular-guy persona, Codey was a staunch advocate of mental health awareness and care issues. The Democrat also championed legislation to ban smoking from indoor areas and sought more money for stem cell research.

Codey, the son of a northern New Jersey funeral home owner, entered the state Assembly in 1974 and served there until he was elected to the state Senate in 1982. He served as Senate president from 2002 to 2010.

Codey first served as acting governor for a brief time in 2002, after Christine Todd Whitman’s resignation to join President George W. Bush’s administration. He held the post again for 14 months after Gov. Jim McGreevey resigned in 2004.

At that time, New Jersey law mandated that the Senate president assume the governor’s role if a vacancy occurred, and that person would serve until the next election.

Codey routinely drew strong praise from residents in polls, and he gave serious consideration to seeking the Democratic nomination for governor in 2005. But he ultimately chose not to run when party leaders opted to back wealthy Wall Street executive Jon Corzine, who went on to win the office.

Codey would again become acting governor after Corzine was incapacitated in April 2007 due to serious injuries he suffered in a car accident. He held the post for nearly a month before Corzine resumed his duties.

After leaving the governor’s office, Codey returned to the Senate and also published a memoir that detailed his decades of public service, along with stories about his personal and family life.

“He lived his life with humility, compassion and a deep sense of responsibility to others,” his family wrote. “He made friends as easily with Presidents as he did with strangers in all-night diners.”

Codey and his wife often spoke candidly about her past struggles with postpartum depression, and that led to controversy in early 2005, when a talk radio host jokingly criticized Mary Jo and her mental health on the air.

Codey, who was at the radio station for something else, confronted the host and said he told him that he wished he could “take him outside.” But the host claimed Codey actually threatened to “take him out,” which Codey denied.

His wife told The Associated Press that Codey was willing to support her speaking out about postpartum depression, even if it cost him elected office.

“He was a really, really good guy,” Mary Jo Codey said. “He said, ‘If you want to do it, I don’t care if I get elected again.’”

Jack Brook contributed reporting from New Orleans.

FILE - New Jersey State Sen. and former Democratic Gov. Richard Codey is seen before New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy delivers his State of the State address to a joint session of the Legislature at the statehouse, in Trenton, N.J., Tuesday, Jan. 10, 2023. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File)