Extra Bases: Gonzales finds multiple ways to 'impact the game'
While the Pirates collectively finished with 14 hits in their 5-4 victory over the Brewers tonight at American Family Field, no offensive contributor had more of an impact than NickGonzales.
Not only did he deliver his first career five-hit game and his fourth multi-hit showing in his last five games, but Gonzales also came through a a run producer. There was this RBI double that put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the first inning ...
... and this run-scoring single that followed a BryanReynolds double and put the Pirates ahead by two runs in the fifth:
“It was good, obviously, to just impact the game," Gonzales said. "Get an RBI early, put us up and then another RBI after that just to kind of give us a lead. Just taking it one at-bat at a time and not thinking too much into it.”
Gonzales is the first Pirates player to go 5 for 5 in a game since OneilCruz did it Aug. 2, 2024. He joins NeilWalker (2010) and Reynolds (2024) as the only players in franchise history to reach that mark in a game against the Brewers.
Gonzales' historic night didn't just come out of nowhere, though. He's continued to stack together quality at-bats as of late, hitting .344 (21 for 61) with a homer, four RBIs and six runs scored over his last 15 games. He's struck out just six times in that span and walked four times. This recent five-game stretch with multiple multi-hit performances has helped raise his season batting average from .226 to .320.
So, what's made the difference?
“Just working with (Matt) Hague," Gonzales said. "We’re trying to stay consistent and get around my back leg. Just be in a spot where I can go out and be athletic, that’s the way he puts it. The way I feel, once I am in this spot that we’re looking for, whether it’s around my rear leg or whatever it may be, it kinda frees me up to be the hitter I am and I’m able to impact the baseball.”
• Isaac Mattson struck out three batters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief tonight. There wasn't a bigger strikeout than the one he registered against Christian Yelich in the eighth inning. Mattson needed 11 pitches to do it, but he finally retired Yelich with this 3-2 fastball clocked at 97 mph at the top of the zone:
This particular strikeout set the tone for a clean eighth inning and kept Yelich from reaching base for a fourth time. It also allowed Mattson to gain some revenge after Yelich took him deep at PNC Park back in May.
“He’s a great player, so just being able to execute, that was really the first thing on my mind between each inning, just having a process," Mattson said. "Talking with (Oscar Marin), talking with Joey (Bart) about how we’re going to attack guys. Getting out there, it’s just focusing on one pitch at a time. It was a heck of a battle. I tip my cap to him for fighting there. Just happy to be able to execute when I needed to and get the strikeout.”
• After collecting three hits and driving in three runs on Sunday, Tommy Pham expressed optimism about the direction he was heading at the plate. So much so that he said, "I should get that first homer, hopefully."
Tonight was the night Pham ended his homer-less drought, belting a two-run shot in the fourth inning for his first as a member of the Pirates. Pham last hit a home run as a member of the Royals on Sept. 10 at Yankee Stadium.
"Finally, I guess," Pham said. "I got tired of seeing a goose egg on the scoreboard."
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THE ASYLUM
José Negron
4:22 am - 06.24.2025MilwaukeeExtra Bases: Gonzales finds multiple ways to 'impact the game'
While the Pirates collectively finished with 14 hits in their 5-4 victory over the Brewers tonight at American Family Field, no offensive contributor had more of an impact than Nick Gonzales.
Not only did he deliver his first career five-hit game and his fourth multi-hit showing in his last five games, but Gonzales also came through a a run producer. There was this RBI double that put the Pirates ahead 1-0 in the first inning ...
... and this run-scoring single that followed a Bryan Reynolds double and put the Pirates ahead by two runs in the fifth:
“It was good, obviously, to just impact the game," Gonzales said. "Get an RBI early, put us up and then another RBI after that just to kind of give us a lead. Just taking it one at-bat at a time and not thinking too much into it.”
Gonzales is the first Pirates player to go 5 for 5 in a game since Oneil Cruz did it Aug. 2, 2024. He joins Neil Walker (2010) and Reynolds (2024) as the only players in franchise history to reach that mark in a game against the Brewers.
Gonzales' historic night didn't just come out of nowhere, though. He's continued to stack together quality at-bats as of late, hitting .344 (21 for 61) with a homer, four RBIs and six runs scored over his last 15 games. He's struck out just six times in that span and walked four times. This recent five-game stretch with multiple multi-hit performances has helped raise his season batting average from .226 to .320.
So, what's made the difference?
“Just working with (Matt) Hague," Gonzales said. "We’re trying to stay consistent and get around my back leg. Just be in a spot where I can go out and be athletic, that’s the way he puts it. The way I feel, once I am in this spot that we’re looking for, whether it’s around my rear leg or whatever it may be, it kinda frees me up to be the hitter I am and I’m able to impact the baseball.”
• Isaac Mattson struck out three batters over 1 2/3 scoreless innings in relief tonight. There wasn't a bigger strikeout than the one he registered against Christian Yelich in the eighth inning. Mattson needed 11 pitches to do it, but he finally retired Yelich with this 3-2 fastball clocked at 97 mph at the top of the zone:
This particular strikeout set the tone for a clean eighth inning and kept Yelich from reaching base for a fourth time. It also allowed Mattson to gain some revenge after Yelich took him deep at PNC Park back in May.
“He’s a great player, so just being able to execute, that was really the first thing on my mind between each inning, just having a process," Mattson said. "Talking with (Oscar Marin), talking with Joey (Bart) about how we’re going to attack guys. Getting out there, it’s just focusing on one pitch at a time. It was a heck of a battle. I tip my cap to him for fighting there. Just happy to be able to execute when I needed to and get the strikeout.”
• After collecting three hits and driving in three runs on Sunday, Tommy Pham expressed optimism about the direction he was heading at the plate. So much so that he said, "I should get that first homer, hopefully."
Tonight was the night Pham ended his homer-less drought, belting a two-run shot in the fourth inning for his first as a member of the Pirates. Pham last hit a home run as a member of the Royals on Sept. 10 at Yankee Stadium.
"Finally, I guess," Pham said. "I got tired of seeing a goose egg on the scoreboard."
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