Esmerlyn Valdez's grand slam, two homers lead Pirates past Brewers 7-6 in first game of doubleheader

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie phenom Esmerlyn Valdez hit two home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning, and drove in six runs to rally the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.

The 22-year-old right fielder has hit nine home runs and driven in 24 runs in his first 26 games. His first career grand slam came off Aaron Ashby (12-2), turning a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead and keeping the Brewers from their 60th win of the season with their second loss in seven games.

Valdez’s first homer of the day was a solo shot in the third that put the Pirates ahead 3-2. He also hit a run-scoring single in a two-run first inning.

Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick hit two-run home runs for the Brewers, who entered the day with a 7½-game lead in the NL Central.

Bauers lined his home run into the right-field seats in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2. Frelick’s blast capped a three-run fifth inning and put the Brewers ahead 5-3.

The Brewers added a run on William Contreras’ single in the top of the seventh, but Valdez answered with his grand slam in the bottom of the inning.

Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft, who has been selected for Tuesday’s All-Star Game, had one of his few poor outings this season. He allowed five runs in five innings.

Carmen Mlodzinski (6-3) pitched one-run ball in three innings of relief and Gregory Soto pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save, getting Andrew Vaughn to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.

Brewers rookie starter Brandon Sproat gave up three runs in three innings.

Brewers LHP Shane Drohan (4-2, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.82) in the second game of the doubleheader in a matchup of rookies.

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Milwaukee Brewers' Sal Frelick (10) rounds third to greetings from third base coach Matt Erickson (68) after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft during the fifth inning of the first game of a baseball double header in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Jake Mangum (28) is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt, center, with umpire Alfonso Marquez watching during the third inning of the first game of a baseball double header in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez celebrates as he rounds the bases after hitting a solo home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Brandon Sproat during the third inning of the first game of a baseball double header in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers during the first inning of game one of a baseball double header against the Milwaukee Brewers in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez hits a grand slam home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Aaron Ashby during the seventh inning of the first game of a baseball double header in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

U.S. Rep. Ro Khanna said Saturday that he was detained by settlers and the Israeli military in the occupied West Bank and released only after calls to the American Embassy in Jerusalem. The Israeli Defense Forces denied detaining any visitors in the incident, the latest example of escalating political tensions involving Israel and its ally's Democratic Party.

A representative for Khanna, a California Democrat who is an outspoken progressive, said the confrontation occurred Wednesday in the middle of a three-day tour of the West Bank. As the congressman visited a Palestinian village that had been abandoned after settler attacks, masked men with guns stopped his group and refused to let them leave.

The New York Times said the incident was witnessed by one of its photographers. Khanna's office said it occurred in the town of Khirbet Zanuta.

Khanna said that when Israeli soldiers arrived he was dispirited to see them interact in a friendly manner with their captors and also block the exit for the congressman's party. Not until the U.S. Embassy and Israeli police were called was Khanna's group allowed to proceed.

“If this can happen to an American member of Congress, imagine what life is like for Palestinians who have no smartphones, no security, and no national platform,” Khanna, who is exploring a presidential bid in 2028, said in a fundraising email he sent out shortly after his post Saturday about the incident.

In a statement, the IDF said it received a report of Israeli citizens blocking foreign nationals and media in Khirbet Zanuta.

“Upon receiving the report, IDF troops were dispatched to the scene, quickly dispersed the Israeli civilians, and reopened the blocked road,” the military said in a statement. “The IDF soldiers operating in the area did not take part in blocking the road.”

Democratic politicians from the United States have stepped up their criticism of Israel amid a sharp turn against the country by the party's voters. This week, former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel, whose father was born in Jerusalem and fought in Israel's war of independence, gave a blistering speech last week in Tel Aviv in which he said Israel has become a “territorial pariah.” Emanuel also is a potential White House contender.

In a recent survey by The Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research, about 58% of Democrats said the U.S. is “too supportive” of Israelis.

Also Saturday, the Israeli military said it detained four suspects who were attacking foreign journalists traveling to Sinjil, another West Bank community. The assailants blocked the journalists' vehicle and damaged it and were armed with clubs and knives, according to the military's statement.

CNN reported that it had a team among the journalists who were attacked. The network said the journalists were there to cover the one-year anniversary of the killing of a Palestinian-American man who was beaten to death by Israeli settlers.

FILE - Rep. Ro Khanna, D-Calif., speaks at a Martin Luther King Jr. Day commemoration at the South Carolina Statehouse, Jan. 19, 2026, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Meg Kinnard, File)