PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — The Pittsburgh Pirates erupted for six early runs and rode a dominant start from Braxton Ashcraft to an 8-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday evening at PNC Park, completing a three-game series sweep.

A crowd of 11,956 watched the Pirates improve to 6-3, solidifying their early-season standing, while the Orioles fell to 3-6, dropping their fourth consecutive game.

The most important part of the game unfolded in the first two innings, as the Pirates quickly erased an early deficit and built an insurmountable lead against Baltimore starter Chris Bassitt. After Bassitt recorded two quick outs in the bottom of the first, Bryan Reynolds worked a walk. Ryan O’Hearn then launched a first-pitch offering deep to center field for a two-run homer, instantly tying the game and shifting the momentum permanently to the home side.

Pittsburgh’s offense continued its onslaught in the second inning, sending ten men to the plate and scoring four runs on four hits. The rally was a mix of small ball and timely power. Spencer Horwitz and Henry Davis singled, and Jake Mangum loaded the bases with a bunt single. Oneil Cruz drove in the go-ahead run with an infield single, and Reynolds added a sacrifice fly. O’Hearn then delivered the decisive blow, a two-run double to center that cleared the bases and staked the Pirates to a 6-2 lead.

That early outburst was more than enough support for Ashcraft, who earned his first win of the season. The right-hander delivered six strong innings, allowing one run on four hits. He struck out eight Orioles batters and walked none, effectively silencing a Baltimore lineup that managed just two runs over the entire weekend series.

Baltimore’s lone runs came in the fourth and seventh innings. Taylor Ward led off the fourth with a double and scored on a Pete Alonso double. In the seventh, Tyler O’Neill singled, advanced to third on a Dylan Beavers single, and scored on Jeremiah Jackson’s RBI single. That seventh-inning threat was extinguished by Pirates reliever Mason Montgomery, who entered with two on and two out and struck out Blaze Alexander to end the inning.

Pittsburgh added two final runs of insurance in the sixth inning when Cruz connected for a two-run homer to center field, his fourth of the season, scoring Mangum who had singled.

O’Hearn was the offensive standout for Pittsburgh, finishing 2-for-5 with a home run, a double, and four RBIs. Cruz went 2-for-4 with the homer and three RBIs. Mangum also added two hits and scored twice.

For the Orioles, Ward, Alonso, and O’Neill each had two of the team’s eight hits. Bassitt took the loss, falling to 0-2 after surrendering six runs on seven hits in just 1 2/3 innings.

The victory extended Pittsburgh’s winning streak to four games, following a series sweep in Cincinnati earlier in the week. The Pirates have now won five of their last six. Baltimore, conversely, heads to Chicago for a three-game set against the White Sox having lost four straight, all by three runs or fewer, including three one-run defeats.

The game’s final total of 10 runs went under the sportsbook over/under line of 8.5, despite the Pirates’ offensive output. Baltimore had been installed as a pregame betting favorite.

Pittsburgh will open a three-game home series against the San Diego Padres on Monday, while the Orioles begin their series in Chicago.