Esmerlyn Valdez homers again as Pirates edge Brewers, 3-2, sweep twinbill from NL Central leaders

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Esmerlyn Valdez hit his third home run of the day, and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the NL Central-leading Milwaukee Brewers 3-2 on Saturday to sweep a doubleheader.

The Pirates won the first game 7-6, as Valdez hit two home runs — including a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning — and drove in six runs.

The rookie right fielder had eight RBIs in the two games and now has homered 10 times and driven in 26 runs in his first 27 career games.

Valdez’s two-run shot in the fourth inning of the nightcap opened the scoring. Brice Turang’s two-run double in the fifth pulled the Brewers even.

Bryan Reynolds singled in the go-ahead run in the sixth off rookie left-hander Shane Drohan (4-3), who allowed three runs and five hits over 6 1/3 innings while striking out six and walking none.

Yohan Ramirez (6-2) pitched a scoreless sixth. Mason Montgomery protected a one-run lead in the ninth inning for his first save of the season and the second of his career.

Pirates rookie starter Bubba Chandler lasted 4 2/3 innings, allowing two runs and five hits. He struck out six and walked three.

The Brewers missed the chance to win their 60th game of the season, a feat they have never accomplished before the All-Star break.

The doubleheader was necessitated by Friday night’s scheduled game being rained out.

The three-game series concludes on Sunday with a matchup of All-Stars as Brewers RHP Jacob Misiorowski (10-4, 1.62 ERA) faces Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (7-8, 3.58).

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Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang, front, celebrates on second base after driving in two runs with a double off Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler during the fifth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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

Pittsburgh Pirates left fielder Bryan Reynolds (10) cannot catch a fly ball hit for a double by Milwaukee Brewers' Brice Turang off Pirates pitcher Bubba Chandler, driving in two runs, during the fifth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez (55) celebrates with Bryan Reynolds (10) after hitting a two-run home run off Milwaukee Brewers pitcher Shane Drohan during the fourth inning of the second game of a baseball doubleheader in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Alex Bregman hit a two-run homer in the seventh inning and the Chicago Cubs rallied for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday night.

Michael Busch had three hits and Carson Kelly also went deep for the Cubs, who improved to 3-2 on their six-game trip before the All-Star break.

All of Cincinnati's runs came via the long ball as Nathaniel Lowe, Eugenio Suárez and JJ Bleday homered. The Reds fell to 6-21 against NL Central teams.

Drew Pomeranz (2-3), the second of six Chicago pitchers used, got the win. Trent Thornton came in with two outs in the ninth and runners at the corners to get Sal Stewart to hit into a game-ending ground out for his third save.

Bregman was in a 2-for-18 slump before he connected on a sweeper from Julian Garcia (0-2) and drove it down the left-field line to put the Cubs back on top. Seiya Suzuki drew a walk to lead off the inning.

The Reds jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the fourth inning when Lowe and Suárez hit back-to-back homers off Javier Assad.

The Cubs got within a run on an RBI base hit by Suzuki in the fifth before Kelly led off the sixth with a solo shot to center off Nick Lodolo. The left-hander exited the game after giving up the homer due to a blister on his left index finger.

Kelly is batting .298 (14 for 47) with three home runs and 13 RBIs in his last 15 games.

Caleb Ferguson came on and gave up a single to Busch, who gave the Cubs a 3-2 lead when he scored on Ian Happ's double to left-center.

Cincinnati promptly tied it at 3 in the bottom of the frame on Bleday's drive to right field.

The Cubs send left-hander Matthew Boyd (4-1, 4.31 ERA) to the mound Sunday. Lefty Andrew Abbott (5-5, 3.92 ERA) goes for the Reds.

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

Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl, bottom, dives safely back to second base as Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner (2) bobbles the ball during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds' Jose De La Cruz singles against the Chicago Cubs during the third inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Cincinnati Reds' Jose De La Cruz, left, runs past Chicago Cubs second baseman Nico Hoerner, right, on a missed ball during the first inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Chicago Cubs' Michael Busch runs to score from first base on a hit by teammate Ian Happ during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)

Chicago Cubs' Carson Kelly, right, celebrates his home run against Cincinnati Reds' Nick Lodolo during the sixth inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 11, 2026, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Jay LaPrete)