This is a 2026 photo of Bubba Chandler (36) of the Pittsburgh Pirates baseball team. This image reflects the Pittsburgh Pirates active roster as of Feb. 18, 2026 when this image was taken, in Bradenton, Fla. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

PITTSBURGH — Oneil Cruz hit a two-run home run, Brandon Lowe went 3 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Tampa Bay 5-1 on Friday night to snap the Ray’s six-game win streak.

Bubba Chandler (1-1) allowed a run and three hits over six innings. Mason Montgomery, Gregory Soto and Dennis Santana each pitched an inning of scoreless relief.

“I thought Bubba set the tone early,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “He was in the zone and really competed with all of his pitches.”

Marcell Ozuna and Spencer Horwitz each had three hits.

Lowe was facing his old team, the Rays, for the first time in the regular season.

“Spring training made it little bit easier,” Lowe said. “I had a couple of games against them, and I got those emotions and nerves out a little bit. Obviously (now) the season is here — these games matter. Those guys were my brothers last year, right now my brothers are in here (Pirates locker room).”

Ozuna led off the second inning with a single and opened the scoring when Horwitz doubled. Konnor Griffin followed with a single, but left fielder Chandler Simpson’s throw home, though off line, gave catcher Nick Fortes enough time to apply the tag as Horwitz tried to score from second.

The Pirates have outscored their opponents 23-1 in the second inning this season, the best run differential in any inning by an MLB team this season. Pittsburgh’s best run differential during any inning in 2025 was a plus-19 (71-52), also in the second inning.

Rays starter Nick Martinez (0-1), who went winless with a 2.41 ERA in his first four starts this season, gave up two runs in 5• innings. He allowed eight hits, walked three and had three strikeouts.

Simpson singled with two out, advanced to second on a wild pitch by Chandler and scored the Rays’ only run when Junior Caminero singled.

Pittsburgh’s Paul Skenes received his 2025 National League Cy Young award, which was presented by Doug Drabek, before the game. Skenes had a major league-best 1.97 ERA and 216 strikeouts in 187ª innings last season. Skenes, Drabek (1990) and Vernon Law (1960) are the only Pirates players to win the award.

Up next

Skenes (3-1, 4.00 ERA) is set to start Saturday against Drew Rasmussen (1-0, 1.13) in the second of a three-game series.