Oneil Cruz homers twice as Pirates beat Mets 12-1 to complete a 3-game series sweep
EVERYBODY. AND WELCOME TO NEWS EIGHT. TODAY I’M MICHAEL FULLER ALONGSIDE METEOROLOGIST MARY ELLEN PAN WITH A CHECK ON THE STORM TEAM FORECAST. WE JUST SAW IT RIGHT THERE. AND AS I ENTERED IN IT WAS A BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL SUNRISE. SO HOPEFULLY THAT TYPE OF WEATHER CONTINUES, YOU KNOW. YEAH. BUT YOU NOTICE THE MUGGINESS THIS MORNING IT WAS QUITE HUMID. BUT WE’RE GOING TO SEE THAT CONTINUING TO DROP THROUGH THE DAY. SO THAT’S SOME GOOD NEWS. AND THAT’S THE MAIN STORY TODAY THAT WE DID HAVE SOME STORMS LAST NIGHT. SOME WICKED STORMS. UNFORTUNATELY NOT EVERYBODY GOT BENEFICIAL RAIN FROM THOSE STORMS THAT SEEM TO BE LOCATED OVER LANCASTER MOSTLY. BUT ANYWAY, WE’RE STARTING OFF. I’M SHOWING YOU FOUR CAMERA SHOTS HERE BECAUSE YESTERDAY AT THIS TIME, WE WERE DEALING WITH QUITE A BIT OF FOG ACROSS THE AREA. IT’S NOT THE CASE TODAY, ALTHOUGH THERE ARE SOME AREAS DEALING WITH LOWER VISIBILITY, LITTLE HAZE THERE IN EPHRATA. AND AS WE TAKE A LOOK, YOU CAN SEE THAT VISIBILITY IS DOWN TO ABOUT THREE QUARTERS OF A MILE IN PARTS OF LEBANON COUNTY, MAINLY NORTH, AND THEN SELINSGROVE DOWN TO ZERO AND LEWISTOWN DOWN TO A QUARTER OF A MILE. BUT ELSEWHERE, WE’RE LOOKING GOOD. NOT TOO BAD, CONSIDERING. YESTERDAY. STORM TEAM LIVE RADAR NETWORK SHOWING THAT THERE MIGHT BE A LITTLE SPRINKLE OR TWO POPPING UP THERE IN FRANKLIN COUNTY, WE HAVE A FRONT THAT’S JUST SITTING ACROSS SOUTHERN AREAS RIGHT ALONG THE STATE LINE. IT’S CLOSE ENOUGH THAT WE COULD HAVE ISOLATED STRAY SHOWER OR THUNDERSHOWER, BUT THAT CHANCE IS GOING TO BE VERY LOW. I DO EXPECT MOSTLY DRY CONDITIONS, ESPECIALLY IN THE AFTERNOON, AND MOST OF THE AREA 70 RIGHT NOW IN LEBANON, 72 IN CARLISLE AND GETTYSBURG, 71 IN LANCASTER. DEW POINTS ARE STILL IN THE 70S, UPPER 60S TO LOW 70S, BUT THERE IS SOME DRIER AIR ACROSS BRADFORD AND AT 59 MEADVILLE, 61 DEGREE DEW POINT THERE SO THAT DRIER AIR IS GOING TO CONTINUE TO FUNNEL IN AS WE GO THROUGH THE DAY. WE’LL CALL IT PARTLY SUNNY THIS MORNING, BECOMING MOSTLY SUNNY LATER TODAY. HIGHS BACK UP INTO THE UPPER 80S, WHICH IS WHERE WE SHOULD BE FOR THIS TIME OF THE YEAR. AND AGAIN, JUST WATCH FOR THAT STRAY SHOWER OR THUNDERSHOWER. MAINLY SOUTH SOUTH OF ROUTE 30 ACROSS THE AREA. TODAY WE DO FEEL THE HUMIDITY RETURNING AND STORM CHANCES INCREASE HEADING BACK INTO THE WORKWEEK. I’LL HAVE MORE ON THAT. YOU CAN HEAR THE STORMS IN THAT VIDEO RIGHT THERE. THIS IS VIDEO FROM LANCASTER TOWNSHIP. IT’S GIVING US A LOOK AT SOME OF THE STORMS THAT PASSED THROUGH THE SUSQUEHANNA VALLEY LAST NIGHT. THOSE STORMS CAUSING HEAVY RAIN IN SOME PARTS, LIKE HERE IN MOUNT JOY, WHERE A NEWS EIGHT VIEWER SENT IN THIS PHOTO OF FLOODING ALONG CYPRESS ROAD. HERE’S ANOTHER PHOTO OF THAT SAME ROAD WHERE WATER WAS PULLING IN A NEARBY YARD, AND SOME OF THE STORMS EVEN CAUSED DAMAGE, LIKE HERE IN LANCASTER TOWNSHIP, WHERE A TREE FELL ACROSS BEAN HILL ROAD, CAUSING THE STREET TO TEMPORARILY BE CLOSED. ALSO IN LANCASTER COUNTY LAST NIGHT, A LIGHTNING STRIKE CAUSED A HOUSE IN EPHRATA TOWNSHIP TO CATCH ON FIRE. THE FIRE DEPARTMENT SAYS IT HAPPENED JUST AFTER EIGHT ON HANSON ROAD AND GLENWOOD DRIVE. EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE, WE’LL GET A LIGHTNING STRIKE. IT DOESN’T HAPPEN TOO OFTEN, BUT WE GET THE THE BIG STORMS THAT ROLL THROUGH THE AREA WITH THE HEAVY LIGHTNING, AND IT CAN OCCUR EVERY ONCE IN A WHILE. AND MORGAN SAYS NO ONE IS LIVING IN THE HOUSE, AND THANKFULLY NO ONE WAS HURT. BUT BECAUSE OF THOSE STORMS, THE LANCASTER COUNTY FIREWORKS SHOW HAD TO BE POSTPONED. THE ELIZABETH FARMS FIREWORKS DISPLAY IN ELIZABETH TOWNSHIP WILL NOW HAPPEN TONIGHT, WITH GATES OPENING AT FIVE AND FIREWORKS STARTING AT DUSK. ADMISSION IS $20 PER VEHICLE, AND IF YOU WANT TO STAY UP TO DATE ON ALL THINGS WEATHER, YOU KNOW WE GOT YOU COVERED. JUST DOWNLOAD THE WGAL APP AND MAKE SURE TO TURN ON THE ALERT SO YOU KNOW WHEN SEVERE WEATHER IS COMING YOUR WAY. WELL, OVER NOW TO THE NATION’S CAPITAL, WHERE SENATE REPUBLICANS NARROWLY ADVANCE PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S BUDGET BILL. AFTER CLEARING A KEY HURDLE LAST NIGHT, JACKIE DEFUSCO IS TRACKING THE LEGISLATION FROM WASHINGTON, MICHAEL, SENATE REPUBLICANS TOOK A FIRST STEP ON SATURDAY TOWARDS PASSING THEIR 940 PAGE BILL. REALLY? JUST HOURS AFTER RELEASING A REWRITE. AND ALL OF THIS COMES AS THE CLOCK KEEPS TICKING TOWARDS PRESIDENT TRUMP’S JULY 4TH DEADLINE. THAT CELEBRATE JULY 4TH WITH THE GREATEST BILL EVER PASSED BY THE UNITED STATES CONGRESS. AFTER A RAZOR THIN 51 TO 49 PROCEDURAL VOTE ON SATURDAY, THE SENATE IS PUSHING AHEAD WITH PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP’S PRIORITIES. TAX RELIEF FOR HARDWORKING AMERICANS, ECONOMIC GROWTH, A STRONGER NATIONAL DEFENSE, A MORE SECURE BORDER, A MORE RELIABLE ENERGY SUPPLY. BUT TWO REPUBLICAN SENATORS, RAND PAUL AND THOM TILLIS, JOINED DEMOCRATS IN OPPOSITION. TILLIS, WHO IS NOW FACING THREATS OF A PRIMARY CHALLENGE FROM THE PRESIDENT ON SOCIAL MEDIA, CITED CONCERNS THAT PROPOSED MEDICAID CUTS COULD CAUSE SOME TO LOSE COVERAGE AND HURT RURAL HOSPITALS. PROPOSED CUTS TO GREEN ENERGY PROGRAMS, ALSO FACING FRESH BACKLASH FROM FORMER TRUMP ADVISER AND TESLA CEO ELON MUSK, WHO CALLED THE LATEST SENATE DRAFT, QUOTE, UTTERLY INSANE AND DESTRUCTIVE, BOTH CONCERNS ECHOED BY DEMOCRATS. HARD TO BELIEVE THIS BILL IS WORSE, EVEN WORSE THAN ANY DRAFT WE’VE SEEN THIS FAR. THE WHITE HOUSE RELEASED A STATEMENT ON SATURDAY SAYING THAT IT STRONGLY SUPPORTS PASSAGE OF THE UPDATED BILL. STILL, SENATORS WILL HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO MAKE AMENDMENTS BEFORE A FINAL VOTE IN THE CHAMBER, AND THEN IT WILL NEED TO WIN APPROVAL AGAIN IN THE HOUSE. IN WASHINGTON, I’M JACKIE DEFUSCO, WGAL NEWS EIGHT. ALL RIGHT, JACKIE, THANK YOU. SO. DIVING INTO THE BILL, TWO OF THE KEY ISSUES LAWMAKERS HAVE BEEN FIGHTING OVER HAVE BEEN MEDICAID AND FUNDING AND TAX CUTS. SO BOTH BILLS WOULD ADD NEW WORK REQUIREMENTS FOR CERTAIN ADULTS TO QUALIFY FOR MEDICAID BENEFITS. THE SENATE VERSION ALSO PROPOSES $25 BILLION TO FUND RURAL HOSPITALS. THAT WOULD HELP WIN OVER AT LEAST ONE REPUBLICAN HOLDOUT. BUT THE LATEST NONPARTISAN ESTIMATE PROJECTS THE SENATE VERSION WILL STILL INCREASE THE NUMBER OF UNINSURED AMERICANS BY MILLIONS IN THE NEXT DECADE. AND AS FOR TAX CUTS, BOTH BILLS AIM TO EXPAND ON TRUMP’S 2017 TAX CUTS. SOME OF THE NEW TAX BREAKS INCLUDE NO TAX ON TIPS, OVERTIME PAY AND BOTH VERSIONS WOULD INCREASE THE CHILD TAX CREDIT. BOTH ALSO RAISE THE CAP ON STATE AND LOCAL DEDUCTIONS, COMMONLY CALLED SALT, BUT THE SENATE VERSION WOULD PHASE THE INCREASE OUT SOONER THAN THE HOUSE VERSION, WHICH COULD BE A STICKING POI
Oneil Cruz homers twice as Pirates beat Mets 12-1 to complete a 3-game series sweep
Updated: 5:45 PM EDT Jun 29, 2025
Oneil Cruz hit a pair of two-run homers, Tommy Pham and Bryan Reynolds also went deep and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 12-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.Cruz ended a 14-game homerless drought and highlighted a five-run outburst off Frankie Montas (0-1) in the first inning. After strikeouts in his next two at-bats, Cruz hit his team-leading 15th homer in the seventh inning to extend the Pirates’ lead to nine runs.Pittsburgh added two more runs in the eighth inning and sent the Mets, who held a players only meeting after a 9-2 loss on Saturday, to their 13th setback in 16 games.The Pirates scored all of their runs in the first inning with two outs. Ke’Bryan Hayes started with a two-run single, the first of his three hits. Cruz and Pham (two RBIs) followed with consecutive homers to right. Montas lasted four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.Carmen Mlodzinski (2-5) allowed two hits in the final 3 2/3 innings, earning the win. Pirates starter Mike Burrows gave up one run and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings.Pittsburgh catcher Henry Davis went 4 for 4. Reynolds hit his 10th homer of the season.Luis Torrens put New York on the board with a home run off Burrows in the fifth.Pittsburgh nearly came up empty in the first when Hayes passed on a sweeper over the heart of the plate to fall behind 1-2 in the count. After looking at a slider in the dirt, he sent the next pitch into center for two runs before Cruz and Pham broke the game open.The Mets were outscored 30-4 in the series. The Pirates, who entered Sunday with the lowest run total in the National League (285), have scored 48 runs in their last seven games and scored at least nine in three straight games for the first time since Aug. 29-31, 2019, at Colorado.Mets RHP Clay Holmes (8-4, 2.97 ERA) will start Tuesday in the opener of a three-game home series against the Brewers. RHP Freddy Peralta (8-4, 2.90 ERA) is scheduled for Milwaukee.Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (3-7, 4.48 ERA) opens the first of a three-game set against the Cardinals on Monday. RHP Erick Fedde (3-7, 4.11 ERA) will go for St. Louis.
PITTSBURGH —
Oneil Cruz hit a pair of two-run homers, Tommy Pham and Bryan Reynolds also went deep and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the New York Mets 12-1 on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep.
Cruz ended a 14-game homerless drought and highlighted a five-run outburst off Frankie Montas (0-1) in the first inning. After strikeouts in his next two at-bats, Cruz hit his team-leading 15th homer in the seventh inning to extend the Pirates’ lead to nine runs.
Pittsburgh added two more runs in the eighth inning and sent the Mets, who held a players only meeting after a 9-2 loss on Saturday, to their 13th setback in 16 games.
The Pirates scored all of their runs in the first inning with two outs. Ke’Bryan Hayes started with a two-run single, the first of his three hits. Cruz and Pham (two RBIs) followed with consecutive homers to right.
Montas lasted four innings, allowing six runs on seven hits.
Carmen Mlodzinski (2-5) allowed two hits in the final 3 2/3 innings, earning the win. Pirates starter Mike Burrows gave up one run and struck out five in 4 1/3 innings.
Pittsburgh catcher Henry Davis went 4 for 4. Reynolds hit his 10th homer of the season.
Luis Torrens put New York on the board with a home run off Burrows in the fifth.
Pittsburgh nearly came up empty in the first when Hayes passed on a sweeper over the heart of the plate to fall behind 1-2 in the count. After looking at a slider in the dirt, he sent the next pitch into center for two runs before Cruz and Pham broke the game open.
The Mets were outscored 30-4 in the series. The Pirates, who entered Sunday with the lowest run total in the National League (285), have scored 48 runs in their last seven games and scored at least nine in three straight games for the first time since Aug. 29-31, 2019, at Colorado.
Mets RHP Clay Holmes (8-4, 2.97 ERA) will start Tuesday in the opener of a three-game home series against the Brewers. RHP Freddy Peralta (8-4, 2.90 ERA) is scheduled for Milwaukee.
Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (3-7, 4.48 ERA) opens the first of a three-game set against the Cardinals on Monday. RHP Erick Fedde (3-7, 4.11 ERA) will go for St. Louis.