Ryan O’Hearn hits a grand slam on his 33rd birthday to lead Pirates to 8-7 victory over Cubs

Ryan O’Hearn hits a grand slam on his 33rd birthday to lead Pirates to 8-7 victory over Cubs 1 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn (29) celebrates with Esmerlyn Valdez (55) and Bryan Reynolds, right, after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 2 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 3 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 4 of 5 | Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Dansby Swanson (7) after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery as Pirates catcher Shawn Ross, left, looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 5 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 1 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn (29) celebrates with Esmerlyn Valdez (55) and Bryan Reynolds, right, after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 1 of 5 Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn (29) celebrates with Esmerlyn Valdez (55) and Bryan Reynolds, right, after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 2 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 2 of 5 Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 3 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 3 of 5 Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates’ Ryan O’Hearn rounds the bases after hitting a grand slam off Chicago Cubs pitcher Jameson Taillon during the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 4 of 5 | Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Dansby Swanson (7) after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery as Pirates catcher Shawn Ross, left, looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 4 of 5 Chicago Cubs’ Seiya Suzuki (27) is greeted by Dansby Swanson (7) after hitting a two-run home run off Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Mason Montgomery as Pirates catcher Shawn Ross, left, looks on during the ninth inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share 5 of 5 | Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) 5 of 5 Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft delivers during the first inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs in Pittsburgh, Sunday, July 26, 2026. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar) Add AP News on Google Add AP News as your preferred source to see more of our stories on Google. Share Updated [hour]:[minute] [AMPM] [timezone], [monthFull] [day], [year] Pittsburgh (AP) — Ryan O’Hearn hit a grand slam on his 33rd birthday, and the Pittsburgh-pirates" class="entity-link entity-organization" data-entity-id="158960" data-entity-type="organization">Pittsburgh Pirates held off the Chicago Cubs 8-7 on Sunday to avoid being swept in the three-game series.The Cubs nearly erased a six-run deficit. Seiya Suzuki hit a two-run home run with one out in the ninth inning to make it a one-run game, but Mason Montgomery held on for his second save.O’Hearn’s blast to center field in the third inning extended the Pirates’ lead to 7-1. That came an inning after a pair of rookies homered, with Esmerlyn Valdez hitting a leadoff shot and Shawn Ross hitting a two-run blast for his first career home run.It was the fourth career grand slam for O’Hearn and second this season. His 17 home runs match the nine-year veteran’s career high.Valdez has 14 home runs in just 37 games. Ross, a catcher, was making his first career start after being called up from Triple-A Indianapolis on Friday. All three home runs came off Jameson Taillon (2-6), who has given up 25 longballs in just 76 innings this season. Taillon lasted four innings, was charged with seven runs on six hits and is winless in his last nine starts.Braxton Ashcraft (10-4) pitched six innings and allowed four runs on seven hits and two walks while striking out five.Brandon Lowe had three of the Pirates’ 11 hits while Valdez and Nick Gonzales had two each. The Cubs got two hits apiece from Michael Busch, Nico Hoerner, rookie Pedro Ramirez and Dansby Swanson. 1 MIN READ 2 MIN READ 1 MIN READ Up nextCubs: Open a four-game series in St. Louis on Monday night with LHP David Peterson (5-7, 5.97 ERA) starting.Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (6-7, 4.90) pitches against Diamondbacks RHP Merrill Kelly (8-8, 5.12) on Monday night in the opener of a three-game home series.___AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb