The Pittsburgh Pirates picked up a 4-2 road win over the Chicago White Sox on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, at Guaranteed Rate Field. Pittsburgh's bullpen was the story, as Brandon Eisert earned the win with 2.1 innings of scoreless, hitless work and Mason Montgomery locked down the save with two strikeouts in a clean ninth. Esmerlyn Valdez supplied the Pirates' biggest blow with a home run, while Brandon Lowe kept things moving offensively with two hits. The two-run margin held up through all nine innings.

Pirates Bullpen Shuts Down White Sox After Starter Struggles

Chicago starter Davis Martin — tagged as the losing pitcher — gave the Pirates a path into the game early. Martin logged five innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and one earned run, but Pittsburgh kept chipping away. The real damage came against reliever Sean Newcomb, who surrendered five hits and three earned runs in just 1.1 innings. That crooked number in the middle innings was where the Pirates created their cushion, turning a close game into a manageable lead.

On the Pittsburgh side, the bullpen collectively held Chicago to two runs on the night. Eisert was dominant in his stretch — 2.1 innings, five strikeouts, no hits, no walks — and he got the decision for it. Trevor Richards added two scoreless innings with three strikeouts, and Montgomery slammed the door in the ninth, fanning two of the three batters he faced.

Valdez Provides the Power, Lowe Gets on Base

Offensively, Esmerlyn Valdez was Pittsburgh's most impactful bat on the night. Valdez went 1-for-2 with a home run and an RBI — a big swing that put runs on the board when the team needed them. Brandon Lowe contributed a 2-for-4 effort to keep Pittsburgh's offense churning throughout the game.

For Chicago, Munetaka Murakami provided the lone real power moment, going 1-for-3 with a solo home run and an RBI. Randal Grichuk added two hits for the White Sox, but neither Chicago threat was enough to overcome a Pittsburgh bullpen that simply would not allow a rally to develop.

Key Performers at a Glance

  • Brandon Eisert (W): 2.1 IP, 5 K, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB
  • Mason Montgomery (SV): 1.0 IP, 2 K, 0 ER, 0 H, 0 BB
  • Trevor Richards: 2.0 IP, 3 K, 0 ER, 1 H, 0 BB
  • Esmerlyn Valdez: 1-for-2, 1 HR, 1 RBI
  • Brandon Lowe: 2-for-4

Turning Point: Newcomb's 1.1-Inning Collapse Opens the Door

The game turned in the middle innings when Newcomb took the mound in relief for Chicago. The left-hander gave up five hits and three earned runs across 1.1 frames, and Pittsburgh capitalized on every opportunity. That stretch essentially doubled Pittsburgh's run total and gave the bullpen a comfortable margin to work with the rest of the way. Chris Murphy steadied things briefly for Chicago with 0.2 scoreless innings, but the damage was already done.

What's Next for the Pirates

Pittsburgh takes this win back into the regular season schedule and will look to build on a performance that showed real depth in the bullpen. The Pirates used eight pitchers between the two sides in a game that was decided by small margins until late — and Pittsburgh's relievers simply outperformed Chicago's down the stretch. The Bucs will continue their road stretch before returning to PNC Park, where they'll look to carry this momentum forward.