![\"Braxton](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/Ashcraft-1120x630.jpeg\")
Photo provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPhoto provided by Matt Lynch\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n
Fresh off the worst start of his career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, Braxton Ashcraft bounced back and delivered his best.<\/p>\n
Ashcraft was tagged for a career-high six runs and surrendered a pair of home runs \u2014 the first time he\u2019s been taken deep twice in the same game \u2014 in 4.1 innings against the St. Louis Cardinals on Tuesday. It was the third of what was five losses in a row for the Pirates.<\/p>\n
But Ashcraft, like his team, showed resiliency and led the Pirates to a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds<\/a> to complete a three-game sweep at PNC Park on Sunday afternoon.<\/p>\n \u201cRegardless of whether you have success or failure, you always put the last one behind you,\u201d Ashcraft said following the win. \u201cIf I try and carry good outings or bad outings into the next outing, it\u2019s not a sustainable way to go about your work. For me, it\u2019s just focusing on the process in between and what I can do to give us a chance to win.\u201d<\/p>\n There was no messing around for Ashcraft, who needed only 82 pitches to work through a career-high 7.2 innings. He held the Reds to four hits, walked two and struck out six. It was the first time in his professional career the right-hander worked into the eighth inning.<\/p>\n For his teammates, it came as no surprise to see much better results this time.<\/p>\n \u201cYou are going to have tough starts, tough stretches,\u201d said battery mate Joey Bart. \u201cYou got to bounce back and see what you are made of. We knew he was going to pitch well.\u201d<\/p>\n On a day where the Pirates really needed him to perform as he did, Ashcraft delivered. <\/p>\n The Pirates starter was locked in a pitchers\u2019 duel with Reds right-hander Chase Burns, who went pitch for pitch with Ashcraft for the majority of his outing. Burns worked a career-high seven innings, blanked the Pirates on three hits, walked one and struck out seven.<\/p>\n Ashcraft, however, was only focused on his side of the mound battle.<\/p>\n \u201cI try really hard not focus on that stuff,\u201d he explained. \u201cI try to focus on the things that I do and the things that I am doing well and come out of the things that I\u2019m maybe not doing so well.\u201d<\/p>\n The only time Ashcraft found himself in any trouble was in the top of the eighth inning. With one out, Reds catcher Jose Trevino doubled to left, giving the Reds runners on second and third with one out.<\/p>\n In stepped Matt McLain, who hit a tapper to third baseman Nick Gonzales. Spencer Steer, who advanced to third on Trevino\u2019s double, broke for home on contact but was easily thrown out by Gonzales.<\/p>\n Manager Don Kelly then made his way up the dugout steps and walked to the mound to get the ball from his starter after a valiant effort. <\/p>\n \u201cHonestly, extremely tough decision there in the eighth to have to go get him,\u201d Kelly said after the game.<\/p>\n Kelly turned to left-hander Gregory Soto to face the left-handed hitting TJ Friedl, who had doubled earlier in the game off Ashcraft. After working a full count, Friedl went down swinging to keep the scoreless tie intact.<\/p>\n Ashcraft, though understanding of the decision, obviously wanted to keep going. But any disappointment he did have quickly turned to support.<\/p>\n \u201cSuper happy for [Soto] as I was a little bit frustrated coming out of it,\u201d Ashcraft explained. \u201cI completely understood the situation. I had my moment of frustration on my own and went back out to pick him up and watch him do his job.\u201d<\/p>\n After his latest start, Ashcraft is now 1-2 with a 3.07 ERA and ranks sixth in the National League<\/a> with 41.2 innings, eighth with 45 strikeouts and 10th in FIP at 3.00.<\/p>\n \u201cI think everybody around here and across the league thinks really highly of this guy,\u201d Bart said. \u201cI think he\u2019s a real, real threat to the league and he\u2019s showing everybody that.\u201d<\/p>\n \t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMentioned in this article: Braxton Ashcraft<\/a> Pittsburgh Pirates<\/a> <\/p>\n