Andrew McCutchen passed franchise icon Roberto Clemente among the Pittsburgh Pirates’ all-time home run leaders in grand fashion, with a 405-foot, three-run blast that was the cause for celebration.
And required a curtain call.
McCutchen hit his sixth homer of the season and 241st as a Pirate to move out of a tie with the Hall of Fame right fielder and into third place in franchise history. McCutchen raised his right arm toward the sky as he circled the bases, then came out of the dugout for an ovation.
McCutchen’s historic homer sparked the Pirates to a 5-2 win over the Miami Marlins on Wednesday afternoon before 16,709 at PNC Park, clinching their second consecutive series win.
The Pirates (28-41) took advantage of a Marlins error for an early 1-0 lead. Henry Davis hit a two-out single to right-center, advanced to third on a bloop single to right by Ke’Bryan Hayes.
When Hayes attempted to steal second, Marlins catcher Nick Fortes threw down even though there was a runner in scoring position. Hayes gave himself up on the play, a deke that caused Fortes’ throw to skip past second baseman Xavier Edwards for a throwing error that allowed Hayes to reach safely and Davis to score.
Falter cruised through the first four innings on 37 pitches, an efficiency that proved necessary in a 27-pitch fifth. With two outs, Fortes singled, Javier Sanoja doubled and Edwards drew a walk to load the bases. But Falter escaped by getting Agustin Ramirez to line out to right.
When Hayes led off the fifth inning with a single and Oneil Cruz drew a full-count walk, it set the stage for McCutchen’s ascension in the record books. He drilled a 1-1 splitter by Marlins right-hander Cal Quantrill 405 feet to left-center for a three-run homer and 4-0 lead.
It was McCutchen’s sixth home run of the season and 241st of his Pirates career, breaking a tie with Clemente. McCutchen now trails only Ralph Kiner (301) and Willie Stargell (475) among Pirates home runs leaders.
It was the 325th home run of McCutchen’s 17-year major league career, which ranks 10th among active players and moved him into a four-way tie for 127th place all-time.
The Marlins answered with a home run by Heriberto Hernandez, who sent Falter’s 1-2 splitter 414 feet to center to cut it to 4-1. With one out, Braxton Ashcraft replaced Falter but proceeded to walk Eric Wagaman and give up a single to Connor Norby. Wagaman scored on pinch hitter Jesus Sanchez’s groundout to first to cut it to 4-2, and Ashcraft was pulled after walking Liam Hicks. Dennis Santana stranded both runners by striking out Kyle Stowers.
The Pirates loaded the bases with one out in the eighth by sandwiching walks by Reynolds and Nick Gonzales around a Spencer Horwitz double. Adam Frazier hit a line drive to left for a sacrifice fly to score Reynolds to make it 5-2.