Deadspin | Ex-Oriole Ryan O’Hearn helps Pirates finish sweep 
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates fright fielder Ryan O’Hearn (29) celebrates his two run home run in the dugout while wearing a welders hood against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Braxton Ashcraft struck out a career-high eight and Ryan O’Hearn drove in four runs to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon.
O’Hearn and Oneil Cruz each hit two-run home runs to help the Pirates complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles, and win their fifth in a row. Pittsburgh did not sweep a series last season until June.
Ashcraft (1-1) gave up one run on an RBI double by Pete Alonso in the fourth inning, which put the Orioles on the board. But Ashcraft limited the damage, eventually tossing six innings without a walk. He allowed only four hits.
Taylor Ward led the Orioles at the plate with three hits.
Pirates pitchers struck out 14 overall without a walk.
Meanwhile, O’Hearn torched his former club at the plate, starting with a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the first off Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt (0-2). Pittsburgh followed with four more runs in the second.
Cruz finished with two hits and three RBIs and started the scoring in that frame with an RBI single when he lined a 112-mph hit on one hop off Bassitt’s leg. Bassitt shook it off and remained in the game. He later allowed a two-run double to O’Hearn that scored Cruz and Brandon Lowe.
Bassitt lasted just two innings and allowed six runs on six hits and two walks without a strikeout.
Lefty Cade Povich, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, replaced Bassitt in the third and delivered a solid 5 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two. Cruz tagged Povich for a two-run home run – his fourth – in the bottom of the sixth to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to 8-1.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was ejected in the top of the third after arguing with home plate umpire Jesse Jean after the Pirates’ Blaze Alexander felt like Ashcraft had started his windup before he was set at the plate. Baltimore bench coach Donnie Ecker managed for the remainder of the game.
Jeremiah Jackson hit an RBI single in the seventh for the game’s final run.
–Field Level Media
#Deadspin #ExOriole #Ryan #OHearn #helps #Pirates #finish #sweep
Apr 5, 2026; Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates fright fielder Ryan O’Hearn (29) celebrates his two run home run in the dugout while wearing a welders hood against the Baltimore Orioles during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-Imagn Images Braxton Ashcraft struck out a career-high eight and Ryan O’Hearn drove in four runs to lead the host Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-2 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday afternoon.
O’Hearn and Oneil Cruz each hit two-run home runs to help the Pirates complete a three-game sweep of the Orioles, and win their fifth in a row. Pittsburgh did not sweep a series last season until June.
Ashcraft (1-1) gave up one run on an RBI double by Pete Alonso in the fourth inning, which put the Orioles on the board. But Ashcraft limited the damage, eventually tossing six innings without a walk. He allowed only four hits.
Taylor Ward led the Orioles at the plate with three hits.
Pirates pitchers struck out 14 overall without a walk.
Meanwhile, O’Hearn torched his former club at the plate, starting with a two-out, two-run homer in the bottom of the first off Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt (0-2). Pittsburgh followed with four more runs in the second.
Cruz finished with two hits and three RBIs and started the scoring in that frame with an RBI single when he lined a 112-mph hit on one hop off Bassitt’s leg. Bassitt shook it off and remained in the game. He later allowed a two-run double to O’Hearn that scored Cruz and Brandon Lowe.
Bassitt lasted just two innings and allowed six runs on six hits and two walks without a strikeout.
Lefty Cade Povich, who was recalled from Triple-A Norfolk on Sunday, replaced Bassitt in the third and delivered a solid 5 2/3 innings in relief, allowing two runs on four hits and three walks while striking out two. Cruz tagged Povich for a two-run home run – his fourth – in the bottom of the sixth to extend Pittsburgh’s lead to 8-1.
Orioles manager Craig Albernaz was ejected in the top of the third after arguing with home plate umpire Jesse Jean after the Pirates’ Blaze Alexander felt like Ashcraft had started his windup before he was set at the plate. Baltimore bench coach Donnie Ecker managed for the remainder of the game.
Jeremiah Jackson hit an RBI single in the seventh for the game’s final run.
–Field Level Media
![Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com](https://images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1777224369642 "Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com")
![Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com](https://i3.wp.com/images.deadspin.com/tr:w-1200/1777224369642?ssl=1 "Three Teams That Screwed Up 2026 NFL Draft | Deadspin.com The Jacksonville Jaguars’ first-round pick, Colorado Buffaloes wide receiver and defensive back Travis Hunter, left, answers questions as General Manager James Gladstone, right, sits next to him during a press conference Friday, March 25, 2025 at Miller Electric Center in Jacksonville, Fla. [Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union] Not every team can take home a prized draft pick, especially if they are throwing darts nowhere near the top of the board.We can’t say enough great things about the Cleveland Browns and Las Vegas Raiders, Dallas Cowboys and New York Jets and their stadium co-tenants, the Giants. From top to bottom, there’s a lot to love about the Panthers’ draft, too.But we have no worldly idea what a few other teams were thinking over the three-day NFL draft completed Saturday in Pittsburgh.Jacksonville JaguarsFrom all splash and sizzle in 2025 to … what-was-that vibes in 2026, maybe this is life with a 30-something general manager. We can’t say Travis Hunter, which cost Jacksonville a 2026 first-round pick in the deal with the Browns on draft night ’25, was a home run. Or even an infield single. And now we can’t say much at all about what the Jaguars did in this draft. The franchise is drafting “culture” and we’re anxious to find out how that computes year over year.San Francisco 49ers Dec 14, 2025; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy (13) prepares to pass the ball during the first quarter against the Tennessee Titans at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-Imagn Images A jumbo receiver who would’ve been on the board 20 picks later De’Zhaun Stribling (Ole Miss) wasn’t entirely unexpected. But the 49ers signed Mike Evans and 2025 first-rounder Ricky Pearsall is being panned as a lead receiver. If these things compute internally, what’s the reward with Stribling? This isn’t a division where drafting depth over difference-makers can be a survival mode. Indiana RB Kaelon Black also would’ve been on the board later and he’s a niche player at best as long as the 49ers have the McCaffrey guy. So two of the top three picks are bit players in a division where everyone north of Arizona will be hyper competitive.Atlanta Falcons Jan 4, 2026; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich on the sideline against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-Imagn Images Clemson cornerback Avieon Terrell brings immediate value and it’s fair to wonder if the Falcons are having buyer’s remorse over the trade of a first-round pick for James Pearce Jr. in 2025 given his off-field issues. The draft wasn’t deep enough to find high-end pass rushers or offensive tackles in the late rounds. Using their third draft pick this year on Kendal Daniels (Oklahoma) at No. 134 is evidence the Falcons are hoping to hit the lottery on upside. Where Daniels fits in this defense is nowhere near clear at the moment. #Teams #Screwed #NFL #Draft #Deadspin.com")
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