The Pittsburgh Pirates handed the Chicago White Sox a 4-2 defeat at Guaranteed Rate Field on Wednesday, September 9, 2026, ending the nine-inning contest with a two-run margin. A solid five innings from starter Davis Martin was undone by a Sean Newcomb implosion in the sixth, and Pittsburgh's bullpen — particularly Brandon Eisert, who struck out five across 2.1 scoreless frames — shut Chicago's lineup down when it mattered most. Munetaka Murakami's solo home run was the offensive highlight for the Sox, but it wasn't enough.

Davis Martin Holds His Own Before the Bullpen Breaks Down

Martin gave the White Sox exactly what they needed early. The right-hander worked five innings, allowing four hits, two walks, and just one earned run while striking out one. It wasn't a dominant outing, but it was a serviceable one — enough to keep Chicago in the game entering the back half.

The wheels came off when Newcomb entered in relief. He recorded just one out beyond the inning mark — 1.1 innings total — but surrendered five hits, one walk, and three earned runs. That stretch turned a competitive game into a two-run deficit that the Sox never climbed out of.

Chris Murphy and Trevor Richards cleaned things up from there. Murphy tossed 0.2 scoreless innings with a strikeout, and Richards was sharp with three strikeouts across a clean two-inning effort. The damage, though, was already done.

Murakami Homers, But Chicago's Offense Stalls Against Pittsburgh Relievers

The Sox managed just two runs on the night. Murakami provided the biggest moment, going 1-for-3 with a home run and an RBI — a bright spot in an otherwise quiet lineup. Randal Grichuk went 2-for-4 and put the ball in play consistently, but neither of his hits drove in a run.

Pittsburgh's relief corps was a mixed but ultimately effective story on the other side. Brandon Eisert was especially punishing: 2.1 innings, five strikeouts, no hits allowed, no runs. Carmen Mlodzinski and Gregory Soto combined for two more scoreless innings. Camilo Doval wobbled — surrendering two hits, two walks, and one earned run in just 0.1 innings — and Luke Weaver gave up another earned run on three hits in 1.0 inning, giving Chicago some hope in the middle frames. Yohan Ramírez bridged the gap with 0.2 scoreless innings before Mason Montgomery slammed the door with two strikeouts in a clean ninth inning to earn the save.

For the Pirates, Esmerlyn Valdez hit a home run, going 1-for-2 with an RBI. Brandon Lowe was the most consistent bat in Pittsburgh's lineup, collecting two hits in four at-bats.

Turning Point: Newcomb's Sixth-Inning Meltdown

The game turned sharply in the middle innings when Newcomb entered and Pittsburgh jumped on him. Five hits and three earned runs in 1.1 innings swung the momentum decisively toward the Pirates. Chicago trailed by two runs entering the late innings and could not manufacture a comeback despite cracks in Pittsburgh's bullpen — Doval and Weaver combined to allow two earned runs across 1.1 innings — as Montgomery ultimately slammed the door in the ninth with a clean frame.

Pittsburgh Bullpen Numbers vs. Chicago (Wednesday)

  • Lake Bachar: 1.2 IP, 3 K, 0 ER, 2 H
  • Brandon Eisert: 2.1 IP, 5 K, 0 ER, 0 H — win
  • Carmen Mlodzinski: 1.0 IP, 0 K, 0 ER, 0 H
  • Gregory Soto: 1.0 IP, 2 K, 0 ER, 1 H
  • Camilo Doval: 0.1 IP, 1 K, 1 ER, 2 H, 2 BB
  • Yohan Ramírez: 0.2 IP, 0 K, 0 ER, 0 H
  • Luke Weaver: 1.0 IP, 1 K, 1 ER, 3 H
  • Mason Montgomery: 1.0 IP, 2 K, 0 ER, 0 H — save

What's Next for the White Sox

The Sox remain at Guaranteed Rate Field following Wednesday's loss. Chicago will look to bounce back in the next game of the series, with the pitching staff needing a steadier performance out of the bullpen to keep games within reach. Murakami's power and Grichuk's contact give the lineup a foundation to work with — the offense just needs more run-support opportunities against Pittsburgh's deep relief corps.