Spencer Horwitz's first career grand slam powered the Pirates to a 6-1 win over the Tigers on July 23, 2025, completing a dominant sweep behind Bailey Falter.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
What a difference a series makes. The Pittsburgh Pirates capped off a dominant three-game sweep of the Detroit Tigers with a resounding 6-1 victory Wednesday, punctuated by the single biggest swing of Spencer Horwitz's young career. The vibes at PNC Park are high, but with the trade deadline just a week away, every win feels bittersweet.
Spencer Horwitz hit his first career grand slam, a two-out, 416-foot shot that blew the game wide open.
Wednesday's finale was a masterclass in complementary baseball. Bailey Falter was simply electric, carving up the Tigers for seven innings while allowing just one run, striking out eight, and, most impressively, walking none. But the big blow came from Spencer Horwitz in the second inning. With the bases loaded and two outs, Horwitz crushed a cutter from Tigers' debutant Troy Melton, sending it 416 feet for his first-ever grand slam. The blast made it 5-0, and the Pirates never looked back. Andrew McCutchen had already set the tone with a solo shot, his ninth of the year, and Bryan Reynolds added to the tally in the third.
Horwitz's grand slam wasn't his only contribution this series. His recent performance is part of a wider offensive awakening for the Bucs. In Tuesday's 8-5 win, Horwitz, Bryan Reynolds, and Tommy Pham made history by each hitting two doubles in the same game—a feat not accomplished by a Pirate trio since 2002. It's this kind of offensive production that fans have been desperate to see, proving the lineup has potential, even if consistency remains elusive.
While the team celebrates on the field, the front office is undoubtedly working the phones. The July 31 trade deadline is fast approaching, and the names of Mitch Keller and David Bednar are at the center of the rumor mill. Keller's solid start on Tuesday might have been his last in a Pirates uniform. Meanwhile, Bednar, who notched his 15th save in that game, remains perfect on the season and is arguably the most valuable closer available. Trading one or both would signal a major shift, restocking the farm system but dealing a blow to the current roster and fanbase.
The push-and-pull between winning now and building for later is everywhere. Former top prospect Mike Burrows will take the mound Friday against Arizona, another chance for him to prove he belongs in the long-term rotation after battling back from injury. Further down the pipeline, the system is flush with pitching talent like Bubba Chandler, and the recent draft added 21 more players, including another top-10 pick in Konnor Griffin. GM Ben Cherington continues to stockpile assets, hoping to build a sustainable winner, even if it means painful goodbyes in the short term.
So, where do the Pirates go from here? They'll ride the high of this sweep into a weekend series against the Diamondbacks, with Mike Burrows on the bump to kick things off. But all eyes will be on the calendar. The next seven days will tell us a lot about the 2025 Pirates and even more about the direction of the franchise for 2026 and beyond. Enjoy the wins, but brace for the news.
