Pirates earn walk-off victory against Giants in Johan Oviedo's return

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 4, 2025

Published in Baseball

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PITTSBURGH — Johan Oviedo’s return didn’t go as the right-hander had hoped, but the Pirates found some ninth inning magic for a 5-4 walk-off win against the San Francisco Giants on Monday night at PNC Park.

The Pirates scored two in the ninth off Giants reliever Randy Rodriguez. Up 4-3, Rodriguez allowed two to reach on a walk and a hit batter. Catcher Joey Bart singled in a run, tying it up and putting runners on the corner, before shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa hit a grounder to first base. First baseman Rafael Devers threw home, but Jack Suwinski slid under the catcher’s tag.

It was the Pirates’ first win when trailing after eight innings all season.

Oviedo started the game, making his first major league appearance since Sept. 27, 2023, after undergoing Tommy John surgery and suffering a right lat strain. He battled with his command and needed 43 pitches to complete just one inning, allowing two runs on two hits and three walks. He struck out three.

The Pirates’ bullpen kept them alive. Yohan Ramirez came in for Oviedo and completed 2 2/3 scoreless innings. Kyle Nicolas got the next eight outs, allowing a two-run Jung Hoo Lee triple but little else. Ryan Borucki, making his return from low back inflammation, erased all five hitters he faced.

Right-hander Dauri Moreta also made his PNC Park return, pitching a 1-2-3 ninth inning. It was his first appearance in Pittsburgh since Sept. 28, 2023, as he also underwent Tommy John surgery. He struck out one.

Giants veteran Justin Verlander stifled the Pirates through five innings, allowing one run on three hits. He struck out four.

Suwinski gave the Pirates a spark in the seventh, hitting a two-run homer off reliever Carson Seymour. It was Suwinski’s second homer of the year.

It was over when …

The Giants challenged the safe call at home, briefly putting the Pirates’ celebration on hold, but Suwinski clearly slid under the tag.

On the mound

In total, the Pirates bullpen combined for eight innings and allowed two runs on five hits. They struck out eight. Nicolas, Borucki and Moreta retired the final 11 hitters they faced.

At the plate

First baseman Spencer Horwitz went 2 for 4 with two singles and scored a run. He led off the first inning with a single, advanced to second on an error, then moved to third on a groundout. He scored on a sacrifice fly from second baseman Nick Gonzales.

Most valuable player

Suwinski. He had the key two-run homer, then his hustle scored the winning run.

Up next

The Giants and Pirates continue their series at 6:40 p.m. ET Tuesday. Mike Burrows (1-3, 3.88) will take the mound for Pittsburgh, while the Giants will start ace Logan Webb (9-8, 3.31). It’s the same matchup as last Wednesday, when Burrows outdueled Webb in a 2-1 Pirates win.

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