Rodriguez Sparks Pirates in Return as Pittsburgh Rolls Past Colorado.

PITTSBURGH — Endy Rodriguez wasted little time making an impact in his long-awaited return to the major leagues Thursday afternoon, helping power the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 7-2 victory over the Colorado Rockies at PNC Park. Playing in his first MLB game since June 2025 after battling through multiple elbow injuries that sidelined him for all of 2024 and much of last season, Rodriguez collected two hits and drove in a pair of runs. The catcher lined a double in the second inning and later added a two-run single during Pittsburgh’s big third inning. The Pirates jumped on Rockies starter Chase Dollander early and never let up. Bryan Reynolds drove in the game’s first run after Oneil Cruz opened the bottom of the first with a double that Colorado left fielder Jordan Beck appeared to lose in the stadium lights. Ryan O’Hearn followed with a two-run homer to right field, his eighth of the season, giving Pittsburgh a quick 3-0 advantage. Pittsburgh added three more runs in the third inning to stretch the lead to 6-0. O’Hearn finished with three hits, while rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin and Jared Triolo each added two-hit performances as the Pirates secured their second win in the three-game series. Dollander, one of Colorado’s top young arms and a first-round draft pick in 2023, struggled from the outset and exited after recording just five outs. The Rockies later announced the right-hander left the game because of right arm tightness. He fell to 3-3 on the season.

Pirates manager Don Kelly used an unconventional pitching approach to counter Colorado’s left-handed-heavy lineup, opening the game with lefties Mason Montgomery and Evan Sisk before turning to right-hander Carmen Mlodzinski in the third inning. Mlodzinski settled in and earned the win after allowing two runs across five innings. Colorado’s offense was limited for most of the afternoon, with Troy Johnston providing the lone bright spot on a two-run double. The loss marked the Rockies’ sixth defeat in their last seven games at PNC Park. The Rockies head back to Denver to begin a weekend series against Arizona on Friday, while the Pirates continue their homestand with a three-game set against the Philadelphia Phillies.