ARLINGTON, Texas (Interstat) — Oneil Cruz launched a three-run homer in the ninth inning to break open a tight game, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rode a strong start from Braxton Ashcraft to an 8-4 victory over the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night at Globe Life Park.

The win evened the three-game series at a game apiece and improved the Pirates to 14-10, while the Rangers fell to an even 12-12.

The most important part of the game arrived in the top of the ninth inning, with Pittsburgh clinging to a 4-2 lead. After Nick Gonzales and Spencer Horwitz opened the frame with singles off reliever Jalen Beeks, Konnor Griffin struck out. Pinch-runner Billy Cook then scored on a fielder’s choice by Jake Mangum, pushing the lead to 5-2. Cruz followed by turning on a pitch from Beeks and driving it deep to right field for a three-run shot, his seventh of the season, to provide decisive insurance runs and stretch the lead to 8-2.

That blast rendered a late Texas rally moot. The Rangers had scored twice in the eighth on a two-run single by Jake Burger, cutting the deficit to 4-2 at the time. Cruz’s homer ensured the Pirates’ bullpen had ample room to work in the ninth.

Ashcraft was the cornerstone of the Pittsburgh victory, delivering his best performance of the young season. The right-hander worked seven strong innings, allowing just four hits and two earned runs while striking out five and walking two. He efficiently navigated the Rangers’ lineup, inducing two double plays to erase potential threats. After surrendering a two-run homer to Josh Jung in the second inning, Ashcraft retired 15 of the next 18 batters he faced, shutting down Texas through the seventh.

His effort provided stability for a Pirates team that had dropped a 5-1 decision to the Rangers just a day earlier.

Pittsburgh struck first in the opening inning against Texas starter Jack Leiter. Bryan Reynolds laced a two-out double to center and scored immediately on a sharp single to left by Marcell Ozuna.

Texas answered in the second when Jung connected for his third home run of the year, a two-run shot off Ashcraft that followed a walk to Joc Pederson, giving the Rangers a brief 2-1 lead.

The Pirates reclaimed the lead for good with a three-run fifth inning, chasing Leiter. Horwitz singled and, after a strikeout, Henry Davis walked. With two outs, Brandon Lowe tied the game with an RBI single to left. Reynolds then delivered the key blow, a single to right field that scored both Davis and Lowe. The latter run came home when Rangers right fielder Brandon Nimmo mishandled the ball for an error, allowing Reynolds to take second.

Leiter took the loss, falling to 1-1 after allowing five hits and three earned runs over five innings. He struck out five but walked two.

The Pirates’ bullpen secured the final six outs, though not without some drama in the eighth. Gregory Soto, credited with the win to move to 1-0, entered with two on and one out in the eighth after Andrew McCutchen singled and Nimmo doubled. Soto struck out Corey Seager but yielded the two-run single to Burger. Dennis Santana then entered and struck out Sam Haggerty to end the inning. Santana returned for a perfect ninth, striking out two, to seal the victory.

Texas reliever Tyler Alexander provided two scoreless innings of relief, but the bullpen faltered in the ninth. Beeks was charged with three of the four runs in the final frame.

The Rangers grounded into two double plays, stifling potential rallies in the fourth and seventh innings. Pittsburgh pitchers combined for 18 strikes, 44 balls and 18 balls in play, while Texas pitchers had 20 strikes, 46 balls and 20 balls in play.

The game, played in two hours and 37 minutes, was witnessed by a crowd of 24,289. The result defied pregame projections, as Interstat’s ELO system had given Texas a 56.6 percent probability to win, though the Pirates had been installed as a 1.5-run favorite. The total of 12 runs sailed over the set over/under line of 8.5.

The series concludes Thursday afternoon in Arlington. The Pirates will then travel to Milwaukee for a three-game set starting Friday, while the Rangers will welcome the Athletics for a three-game series beginning Friday.