Despite trailing 2-0 heading into the bottom of the fourth inning, the Pittsburgh Pirates were decisive victors in Friday night’s game against the New York Mets, winning 14-2. Those runs, specifically how they were scored, created a problem for the Pirates — a problem any MLB team would gladly take.
All 14 runs the Pirates scored came across the plate on home runs. Pittsburgh hit seven home runs — Rowdy Tellez and Bryan Reynolds both hit grand slams, Reynolds hit a two-run homer, while Tellez, Jack Suwinski, Yasmani Grandal and Michael Taylor all hit solo shots.
And as the Pirates were batting in the 11th inning, a message came across the scoreboard at PNC Park.
“This. Is. Insane. We have seven home runs tonight, which is the fifth time in Pirates history that we have done this. So many homers that we ran out of fireworks.”
Pirates brought the lumber on Friday. pic.twitter.com/TDxOWx5yba
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) July 6, 2024
The Pirates shared a similar message on their X (formerly Twitter) page.
“We hit so many home runs that we ran out of fireworks. We’re being serious.”
We hit so many home runs that we ran out of fireworks.
We’re being serious.
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 6, 2024
And while it was the fifth time that the team hit seven home runs in a game, Pittsburgh hadn’t exceeded five home runs in any game since 1947 (per Codify baseball).
The Pittsburgh Pirates hadn’t hit more than 5 home runs in a home game since 1947. They hit 7 tonight. 😮
— Codify (@CodifyBaseball) July 6, 2024
The seven home runs allowed also tied a Mets franchise record. So, it’s hard to blame the Pirates for running out of fireworks.
[Photo Credit: SportsNet Pittsburgh]