Pirates shut out Diamondbacks; David Bednar earns 100th career save

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jul 26, 2025

Published in Baseball

By clicking submit, I authorize Arcamax and its affiliates to: (1) use, sell, and share my information for marketing purposes, including cross-context behavioral advertising, as described in our Privacy Policy , (2) add to information that I provide with other information like interests inferred from web page views, or data lawfully obtained from data brokers, such as past purchase or location data, or publicly available data, (3) contact me or enable others to contact me by email or other means with offers for different types of goods and services, and (4) retain my information while I am engaging with marketing messages that I receive and for a reasonable amount of time thereafter. I understand I can opt out at any time through an email that I receive, or by clicking here

PITTSBURGH — For the second time this series, the Pirates held the Arizona Diamondbacks scoreless through nine innings. This time, the Pirate offense did enough to win.

Andrew Heaney and five relievers combined on a shutout, Oneil Cruz hit a two-run homer, and the Pirates beat the Diamondbacks 2-0 at PNC Park. Heaney earned the win, improving to 5-9 in his final start before the trade deadline.

David Bednar pitched the ninth to earn his 100th career save and 16th of the season.

It’s the Pirates’ 12th shutout win this season, tied with the Chicago Cubs for the second-most in baseball and matching the 2024 team’s total. The San Diego Padres lead the league with 14.

Heaney allowed a leadoff single to designated hitter Ketel Marte, then didn’t allow another hit until the fifth. He allowed two hits and hit a batter in five scoreless frames, striking out four.

The Pirates scored both runs in the second. Left fielder Tommy Pham reached when his grounder was muffed by third baseman Eugenio Suarez. Two pitches later, Cruz hit an inside cutter from Arizona starter Merrill Kelly into the right-center field bleachers.

Genesis Cabrera and Yohan Ramirez combined for the sixth inning. Both allowed a single, but Ramirez struck out pinch-hitter Jose Barrera to strand both runners. Barrera was pinch-hitting for Diamondbacks right fielder Randall Grichuk, who was traded to the Royals mid-game.

Other than the Cruz homer, Kelly cruised through the first six innings. He walked Joey Bart and allowed a single to Liover Peguero before he was pulled in the seventh. Left-hander Andrew Saalfrank struck out Spencer Horwitz to leave Bart and Peguero stranded on the corners.

It was over when …

… Dennis Santana struck out Lourdes Gurriel Jr. to end the eighth. Santana had walked the leadoff batter, allowing the tying run to the plate, but got out of it. Bednar pitched a stress-free, 1-2-3 ninth.

On the mound

The looming deadline might have played a role in Heaney’s quick hook, as he threw just 71 pitches. He was pulled on a positive, completing two full trips through the Arizona lineup.

It was easily his best start of July. In three previous appearances (two starts), Heaney had allowed 14 earned runs in nine innings. The Pirates likely won’t get too much in a deadline deal for Heaney, but Saturday was an example of the ability he showed earlier this season.

At the plate

The Pirates had six hits. Two came from Bart, who entered the game 3 for 23 (.130) in July. He hit a double over the right field side wall in the fourth inning, his second extra-base hit since May 20.

Most valuable player

Bednar. Saturday was his 23rd consecutive outing without allowing an earned run. He struck out Suarez, the trade deadline’s top prize and one of the hottest hitters in baseball, with three consecutive curveballs.

Bednar’s name has come up often in trade rumors. With the deadline a week away, it meant more that Bednar hit the 100-save mark as a Pirate.

Up next

The Pirates and Diamondbacks conclude their series at 1:35 p.m. ET Sunday. Paul Skenes (5-8, 1.91) will pitch for Pittsburgh, while the Diamondbacks will throw Zac Gallen (7-11, 5.58) in what could be the last start of his Arizona tenure.

____