Konnor Griffin, Pirates chase series win against struggling Angels

It took 10 seconds for rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin to make an impact in his return to the Pittsburgh Pirates' lineup on Friday night after missing 49 games because of a torn sagittal band in his left ring finger.

Make that 10.14 seconds, to be exact.

That's how long it took Griffin to dash from first base to home in the second inning on a double down the right-field line by Jake Mangum and score the only run in a 1-0 victory over the visiting Los Angeles Angels on Friday.

"Two outs, as soon as he hit it I was thinking score, and (third base coach Tony) Beasley loves to send, and we did it. We got it done," Griffin said.

"I'm not sure anybody else in the major leagues scores on that ball," Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said. "That was unbelievable. ... That's Konnor. And the electricity that he brings overall, and what he's able to do and how he's able to change the game."

It was the fifth win in the past six games for the Pirates (70-72), who remain 4 1/2 games behind the San Diego Padres in the race for the final National League wild-card playoff spot with 20 games to go.

Pittsburgh will try to win its fourth consecutive series on Saturday night when it sends right-hander Braxton Ashcraft (14-5, 3.59 ERA) to the mound against Los Angeles left-hander Yusei Kikuchi (0-5, 5.65).

It will be Ashcraft's first career appearance against the Angels. He is 5-1 with a 2.66 ERA over his last seven starts, including a 5-4 victory at St. Louis on Sunday, when he allowed two runs on six hits in five innings with three strikeouts.

Los Angeles (53-88) has lost three straight games and 10 of its last 11. The Angels need to go at least 10-11 in their final 21 games to avoid the first 100-game loss season in franchise history.

Kikuchi, an All-Star in 2025, is 1-1 with a 5.00 ERA in four career appearances (three starts) against Pittsburgh, including 1-0 with a 3.55 ERA in three appearances (two starts) at PNC Park.

It will be Kikuchi's third start since he missed almost four months due to left shoulder inflammation. He took the loss in a 5-2 setback to the Philadelphia Phillies on Sunday in Anaheim, Calif., when he allowed two runs on six hits, a walk and three strikeouts in seven innings. It marked the first time since Aug. 20, 2025, against the Reds that he pitched seven innings.

"I think my fastball was really good today, especially the fastball command," Kikuchi said after Sunday's game. "Being able to pitch inside, east-west, where I wanted to. I had no complaints."

Both runs allowed came on solo homers, the first one in the third inning by J.T. Realmuto on a slider in the middle of the plate, and the second on a high splitter to Edmundo Sosa in the seventh.

"I thought Kikuchi pitched great," Angels manager Kurt Suzuki said. "I felt the location of his fastball was better. Used some breaking balls. Seven innings, two runs, and it was two solo shots, so I thought he pitched great."

--Field Level Media