PITTSBURGH (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates first baseman Ryan O’Hearn turned in one of the most remarkable individual performances in franchise history Tuesday night, driving in 10 runs on three home runs against the Atlanta Braves.
O’Hearn got things started with a grand slam off Atlanta starter Hurston Waldrep in the first inning. He followed that up with a three-run home run, also off Waldrep, in the third inning. Then in the sixth, he connected off Braves reliever Connor Thomas for yet another three-run blast.
The record-breaking night surpassed a franchise mark that had been on the books for more than eight decades. The previous Pittsburgh club record of nine RBIs in a single game was set by Johnny Rizzo against St. Louis on May 30, 1939. O’Hearn’s 10 RBIs also led all major league players for the current season.
O’Hearn, who joined Pittsburgh on a multi-year free agent deal during the offseason, was named an All-Star last season while splitting time between Baltimore and San Diego. With Tuesday’s performance, he also became just the 16th player in the Pirates’ 145-year history to hit three home runs in a single game.
