Spencer Horwitz Powers Pirates Past Braves with Two Homers in 9-3 Win on September 26, 2025

Friday, September 26th, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates Triumph Over Atlanta Braves 9-3

The Pittsburgh Pirates powered past the Atlanta Braves with a decisive 9-3 victory on Friday night at Truist Park. Spencer Horwitz was the standout performer, going 3-for-3 with two home runs and four RBIs, while Tommy Pham contributed a two-run homer to help lead the Pirates’ offense.

Pirates’ Offense Shines

In addition to Horwitz and Pham, Nick Gonzales, Bryan Reynolds, Nick Yorke, and Henry Davis each chipped in with two hits, contributing to the Pirates’ total of 14 hits on the night.

Horwitz set the tone early, drawing a walk to lead off the second inning before Pham launched a two-run home run off Braves starter Joey Wentz, giving Pittsburgh an early 2-1 lead.

The offensive barrage continued in the seventh inning as Horwitz connected for a solo shot, extending the Pirates’ advantage to 5-2. Following a 50-minute rain delay, Horwitz capped off his night with a three-run homer in the ninth, sealing the victory for Pittsburgh.

Braves’ Efforts

Matt Olson and Michael Harris II each homered for Atlanta, with Harris also contributing a double. Ronald Acuña Jr. tallied three hits for the Braves, providing a bright spot on an otherwise tough night for the home team.

Pitching Highlights

Pirates starter Mitch Keller surrendered an early run, but reliever Yohan Ramírez (3-3) came on in the third with two runners on and retired Matt Olson on a key strikeout. Keller’s effort and the bullpen’s shutdown performance helped limit the Braves’ scoring opportunities.

Joey Wentz (5-7) struggled on the mound for Atlanta, giving up four runs on eight hits across four innings of work.

Key Moment

After Pham’s home run in the second, Nick Yorke singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Henry Davis’ RBI single. Davis then stole second and came around to score on a Gonzales single, pushing the Pirates’ lead to 4-1 early in the game.

Key Stats

The Braves were unable to capitalize with runners in scoring position, finishing 0-for-9 and leaving nine men stranded on base. The loss marked their second consecutive defeat following a 10-game winning streak.

Up Next

The second game of the three-game series will see Atlanta’s Spencer Strider (7-13, 4.45 ERA) take on Pittsburgh’s Bubba Chandler (3-1, 4.56 ERA) as both teams continue to battle late in the season.

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates delivered a powerful offensive performance to secure a 9-3 win over the Atlanta Braves, highlighted by multi-homer heroics from Spencer Horwitz and a strong supporting cast. With 14 hits and timely pitching, the Pirates ended the Braves’ momentum and set the stage for the remainder of the series.

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