North Shore Nine

The Pittsburgh Pirates gave fans plenty to cheer about with a commanding 9–0 win over the Colorado Rockies, but the spotlight belonged to Bubba Chandler. Making his long-awaited MLB debut, Chandler showed poise well beyond his years. He worked efficiently through the Rockies’ lineup, pounding the zone and flashing the electric stuff that made him one of the Pirates’ most anticipated pitching prospects.

On the offensive side, it was a balanced attack that set the tone. Spencer Horwitz stayed locked in at the plate, continuing to be the engine of the lineup. Tommy Pham contributed with sharp contact and steady defense in left, giving Chandler the support he needed in the field. Andrew McCutchen had 2 doubles along with 4 RBI, while Henry Davis chipped in with quality at-bats that kept the pressure on Colorado’s pitching staff.

Much of the hype was surrounded by Bubba’s debut, but Braxton Ashcraft provided 5 strong innings in tonight’s start as well. He struck out 6 batter while only allowing 2 baserunners.

It was the kind of complete game that Pittsburgh fans have been waiting for—young talent stepping up, veterans producing, and a home crowd buzzing with energy. If Chandler’s debut is any indication, the Pirates’ future rotation looks bright.