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<\/p>\nPITTSBURGH \u2014 Rookie phenom Esmerlyn Valdez hit two home runs, including a go-ahead grand slam in the seventh inning, and drove in six runs to rally the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-6 victory over the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday in the first game of a doubleheader.<\/p>\n
The 22-year-old right fielder has hit nine home runs and driven in 24 runs in his first 26 games. His first career grand slam came off Aaron Ashby (12-2), turning a 6-3 deficit into a 7-6 lead and keeping the Brewers from their 60th win of the season with their second loss in seven games.<\/p>\n
Valdez’s first homer of the day was a solo shot in the third that put the Pirates ahead 3-2. He also hit a run-scoring single in a two-run first inning.<\/p>\n
Jake Bauers and Sal Frelick hit two-run home runs for the Brewers, who entered the day with a 7\u00bd-game lead in the NL Central.<\/p>\n
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Gene J. Puskar\/AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh Pirates’ Jake Mangum (28) is tagged out by Milwaukee Brewers shortstop Cooper Pratt, center, with umpire Alfonso Marquez watching during the third inning of the first game of a baseball double header in Pittsburgh, Saturday, July 11, 2026. (AP Photo\/Gene J. Puskar)<\/p>\n
Bauers lined his home run into the right-field seats in the second inning to tie the game at 2-2. Frelick’s blast capped a three-run fifth inning and put the Brewers ahead 5-3.<\/p>\n
The Brewers added a run on William Contreras’ single in the top of the seventh, but Valdez answered with his grand slam in the bottom of the inning.<\/p>\n
Pittsburgh starter Braxton Ashcraft, who has been selected for Tuesday’s All-Star Game, had one of his few poor outings this season. He allowed five runs in five innings.<\/p>\n
Carmen Mlodzinski (6-3) pitched one-run ball in three innings of relief and Gregory Soto pitched a scoreless ninth for his 12th save, getting Andrew Vaughn to ground into a game-ending double play with the bases loaded.<\/p>\n
Brewers rookie starter Brandon Sproat gave up three runs in three innings.<\/p>\n
Up next<\/p>\n
Brewers LHP Shane Drohan (4-2, 2.97 ERA) is scheduled to face RHP Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.82) in the second game of the doubleheader in a matchup of rookies.<\/p>\n
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