Pirates Make History: Every Starter Gets an RBI

The Pittsburgh Pirates didn't just win on Saturday. They made history doing it.

For the first time since September 16, 1975, every player in the Pirates' starting lineup recorded at least one RBI in their blowout 17-7 victory against the Cincinnati Reds. The feat was complete by the end of the fourth inning, capping off a performance that showed baseball at its most fun.

The team struck for five runs in the first inning on five hits, including a pair of doubles. Brandon Lowe, Ryan O'Hearn, Nick Gonzales, Marcell Ozuna, and Konnor Griffin all drove in runs before most fans had finished their first hot dog.

Then things got even more interesting. In the second inning, the Pirates drew seven consecutive walks, tying a major league record. Four of those walks drove in runs without a single hit, showing the kind of patience at the plate that manager Don Kelly praised after the game.

"When we've been really good offensively and had those big innings, it's usually been because we've been patient," Kelly said. The Pirates struck for five more runs in the fourth inning, batting around three times in the first four frames alone.

Konnor Griffin had a standout day, finishing 4-for-5 and coming just a home run shy of the cycle. "I don't have to do too much," Griffin said. "I am just a little piece of the puzzle."

Why This Inspires

What makes this story special isn't just the record books. It's watching a team that had been swept just days earlier by St. Louis come together as a complete unit.

Seven Pirates recorded multi-hit efforts, and remarkably, all this offensive firepower came without a single home run. "To go and have that kind of offensive day without a home run is the type of offense that we need to be," Kelly noted.

The Pirates batted around three times in just four innings, with their top two hitters each getting five plate appearances before the fifth inning ended. It was baseball the way it's meant to be played: patient, disciplined, and with everyone contributing.

It's also worth noting this is only the fourth time in team history the Pirates have scored 15 or more runs twice before their 35th game of the season, and the first time since 1896.

After a rough start to the week, the Pirates showed that fortune can change quickly when a team works together and trusts each other at the plate.