Oakland Athletics at Pittsburgh Pirates: Final Score & Recap

The Oakland Athletics handed the Pittsburgh Pirates a 9-5 defeat at PNC Park on June 7, 2023, in a game that was effectively decided before the first inning was complete. Oakland erupted for seven runs in the top of the first, a rally that swung the DiamondIQ model's estimate from an 82 percent pre-game home win probability all the way to near certainty for the visitors. Ramón Laureano's forceout in that opening frame added 19.1 percent in win probability, anchoring the decisive burst and finishing the game as Oakland's top offensive contributor at plus-18.9 percent WPA. Pittsburgh's Connor Joe had a chance to answer in the bottom half, but his pop out off Hogan Harris carried a 19.6 percent negative swing, the single largest win-probability play of the game and a moment that effectively confirmed Oakland's grip on the contest. Mark Mathias further compounded Pittsburgh's troubles in the second inning, his groundout off Harris costing the Pirates another 19.5 percent, while Shea Langeliers added to Oakland's cushion with a pop out off Rob Zastryzny that produced a 19.2 percent positive swing for the Athletics.

Hogan Harris was the dominant force on the mound, finishing as the top pitcher by WPA at plus-39.2 percent, a number that reflects how thoroughly he neutralized Pittsburgh's lineup during his time on the hill. The Athletics collected 17 hits against no errors while Pittsburgh managed 9 hits in a game that was never truly competitive after the opening frame. Langeliers finished second among Oakland's position players at plus-16.0 percent WPA, and Ke'Bryan Hayes was Pittsburgh's lone bright spot by that measure at plus-6.9 percent. Carlos Santana's grounded into double play in the seventh inning off Ken Waldichuk cost the Pirates 9.3 percent win probability, an apt symbol for a Pittsburgh offense that could not generate meaningful resistance. Richard Lovelady and Lucas Erceg each contributed positively out of the Oakland bullpen at plus-2.7 and plus-1.4 percent WPA respectively, preserving what the starter had built. The DiamondIQ model's estimate closed at zero percent for the home side.