Andrew McCutchen, Jared Triolo Power Pittsburgh Pirates Past Colorado Rockies 5-1 on August 23, 2025

Saturday, August 23rd, 2025

Pittsburgh Pirates Defeat Colorado Rockies 5-1 With Power at Home

The Pittsburgh Pirates showcased their power on Saturday night, earning a 5-1 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Andrew McCutchen and Jared Triolo provided the offensive spark, each hitting a two-run home run in consecutive innings to establish a commanding lead early in the game.

McCutchen and Triolo Spark Offense

Andrew McCutchen opened the scoring in the second inning, launching his 12th home run of the season just inside the left-field foul pole. An inning later, Jared Triolo delivered a two-run shot to extend the Pirates' lead to 4-0. Triolo also tripled in the fourth inning and scored on Bryan Reynolds’s double. His 2-for-4 performance raised his batting average above .200 for the first time this season, finishing the day at .205.

Rockies Attempt Late Comeback

Colorado’s Brenton Doyle broke up the shutout in the ninth inning with a two-out solo home run. Doyle entered the game with one of the highest OPS marks in baseball during August, showing strong form late in the season.

Pirates Pitching Dominates

Rookie pitcher Mike Burrows delivered a solid start for Pittsburgh, tossing four scoreless innings with five strikeouts and allowing just two hits before being lifted after 57 pitches. Burrows continues to impress after returning from Tommy John surgery, having pitched the most innings of his career this season. Carmen Mlodzinski earned the win with two shutout innings in relief.

Kyle Freeland Struggles for Colorado

For the Rockies, Kyle Freeland allowed five runs on seven hits across five innings and struck out six. The loss ties Freeland with Arizona’s Zac Gallen for the third-most losses in the majors, only trailing Washington’s Mitchell Parker and teammate Antonio Senzatela.

Key Moment

Andrew McCutchen's second-inning home run set the tone and gave the Pirates a lead they would hold for the remainder of the game. Notably, it was his first home run since August 1—also against the Rockies.

Key Stat

The loss for Kyle Freeland emphasizes his challenging season, now tied for third-most losses among MLB pitchers.

Looking Ahead

The Rockies have yet to announce a starting pitcher for the next game. The Pirates will send MLB ERA leader Paul Skenes (7-9, 2.16 ERA) to the mound as they aim to continue their strong pitching run.

In summary

The Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Colorado Rockies 5-1, powered by home runs from Andrew McCutchen and Jared Triolo. Pittsburgh’s pitchers shut down the Rockies’ offense until Brenton Doyle’s ninth-inning homer. The Pirates look to continue their momentum in the next game, with ace Paul Skenes set to take the mound. This matchup highlighted the Pirates' offensive power and effective pitching, while the Rockies continue to search for answers this season.

Related Links

• Colorado Rockies News & Updates
• Colorado Rockies Schedule & Scores
• Pittsburgh Pirates News & Updates
• Pittsburgh Pirates Schedule & Scores
• MLB News