Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller throws a first inning pitch to the Seattle Mariners in a baseball game, Tuesday, June 23, 2026, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Philip G. Pavely)

PITTSBURGH — Cole Young hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning in his first major league game in his hometown to lift the Seattle Mariners to a 3-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.

The 22-year-old second baseman’s drive into the right-field bleachers kept the Mariners in first place in the AL West with a 41-39 record. Young grew up in Pittsburgh’s northern suburbs and starred at North Allegheny High School.

The Mariners’ other run came in the fourth inning when Cal Raleigh led off with a solo shot off Mitch Keller (5-5). That ended a streak of 64 plate appearances since Raleigh’s last homer on April 27.

Raleigh has just eight home runs this season after hitting a major league-high 60 last year. He was on the injured list with an oblique strain from May 14-June 15.

Young’s home run enabled George Kirby (6-7) to end a five-game losing streak and win for the first time in eight starts. Kirby allowed two runs (one earned) in six innings, allowing eight hits, striking out five and walking two.

Andrés Muñoz pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save.

Keller remained winless in his last five starts as he gave up three runs and seven hits in six-plus innings with four strikeouts and one walk.

The Pirates took a 2-0 lead on an RBI single by Marcell Ozuna in the second inning and a throwing error by third baseman J.P. Crawford in the third.

Crawford and Josh Naylor had two hits each for the Mariners. The Pirates got two hits each from Brandon Lowe and Nick Gonzales.

Injury report

Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin is scheduled to begin a rehab assignment tonight with Double-A Altoona, the club said.

Griffin has been sidelined since May 31 with a right forearm strain. He made his major league debut with the Pirates on April 3 and was signed to a nine-year, $140-million contract five days later.

Griffin, 20, is hitting .270 with four home runs, 22 RBIs and 14 stolen bases in 51 games this season. The Pirates do not have a timetable for when Griffin will be activated from the injured list.

“We’re going to take it day by day and just see how he’s responding to everything,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said before Tuesday night’s game against Seattle. “Sounds like yesterday and today went well with the challenging throws on relays and stuff in the hole. Just get him back into game action and see how he’s doing with the arm, rhythm and timing of the at-bats. Look to get him back up here soon, hopefully.”

Further imaging on right-hander Jared Jones’ right elbow revealed no damage. Jones left Sunday’s game in the third inning after he was hit on the elbow by a line drive from Colorado’s JT Rumfield.

If Jones gets through a bullpen session without incident today, he will start against Cincinnati on Saturday, the team said.

Up next

Mariners RHP Bryan Woo (6-5. 3.94 ERA) faces RHP Braxton Ashcraft (6-3, 3.18) tonight.