Pittsburgh Pirates' Oneil Cruz is congratulated in the dugout after hitting a two-run home run in the second inning of a baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds, Tuesday, Sept. 23, 2025, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Kareem Elgazzar)

CINCINNATI — Oneil Cruz hit a two-run homer and the last-place Pittsburgh Pirates beat the wild-card chasing Cincinnati Reds 4-2 on Tuesday night.

Cincinnati entered the game tied with the New York Mets for the third NL wild card. The Reds own the first tiebreaker over the Mets with a 4-2 edge in the season series. The Mets played the Cubs on Tuesday night.

The Pirates scored all four of their runs in the second inning against Brady Singer (14-11).

Jack Suwinski doubled and scored on Nick Yorke’s single. Yorke scored from first on Alexander Canario’s double. Cruz’s 20th homer of the season made it 4-0.

Elly De La Cruz, who snapped a 43-game homerless streak on Saturday, got the Reds’ on the board with a two-run homer off Johan Oviedo to make the score 4-2 in the bottom of the second.

The Reds had runners on first and third with two outs in the sixth, but Pirates rookie Hunter Barco (1-0), making his major league debut, got Matt McLain to ground into a force play. Barco earned his first career victory.

The Reds managed only five hits and grounded into three straight inning-ending double plays including in the ninth to help Dennis Santana secure his 15th save.

Key moment

Suwinski appeared to make a diving catch on Will Benson’s drive in foul territory down the left field line with two outs in the fourth. The Reds challenged and the ruling of a catch was overturned. Benson struck out to end the inning stranding two runners.

Key stat

The loss snapped Cincinnati’s season-high five-game winning streak. The Reds have won five straight games four times this season.

Up next

Reds RHP Hunter Greene (7-4, 2.74 ERA) opposes Pirates RHP Paul Skenes (10-10, 2.03) tonight.