Pirates, Nick Gonzales Walk Off Phillies 8-7 to Begin Second Half

PITTSBURGH— The Pirates’ winning streak carried over into the second half of the season as they walked off the Phillies with a Nick Gonzales’ single at a packed PNC Park on Friday.

The top of the Pirates’ order feasted as Andrew McCutchen, Bryan Reynolds and Oneil Cruz each reached base at least three times. Rowdy Tellez notched three RBI via sacrifice to set a team record, and Gonzales swung at the first pitch he saw in the bottom of the ninth, roping it through the infield to cement the comeback win.

Pittsburgh (49-48) starter Martín Pérez faced each member of the Phillies’ lineup in the first inning, struggling to get outs—as was the case throughout his appearance—as Philadelphia opened a 3-0 lead. The Pirates, however, came out swinging to open the home half of the inning.

Back and Forth Ballgame

McCutchen and Reynolds singled to put runners at the corners, then Cruz drilled a 120.5 mile per hour double off the wall to make it 3-1. Nick Gonzales and Tellez each plated a run with productive outs, knotting the score at three.

Weston Wilson put Philadelphia back ahead with a solo shot just out of Reynolds’ reach in the third, but Cruz showcased his baserunning to tie the game immediately. After a leadoff double, Cruz took third on a Gonzales groundout, allowing Phillies’ third baseman Alec Bohm to look him back to second before taking off on the throw. A Tellez sacrifice tied the game 4-4.

Trea Turner hit a two-run bomb in the fourth, and Pérez’s day ended soon thereafter. Kyle Nicolas loaded the bases in the fifth, allowing another sacrifice fly RBI as Philadelphia threatened to pull away.

Pittsburgh put two on with two out in the sixth, bringing the tying run to the plate as Connor Joe pinch-hit for Jack Suwinski. Joe grounded out to first on a checked swing to end the rally.

The Pirates tagged stalwart Phillies reliever Orion Kerkering for two runs in the seventh, closing the gap to one.

Joe singled to lead off the ninth, and manager Derek Shelton substituted Michael A. Taylor as a pinch runner. McCutchen walked to put two aboard, then the runners executed a double steal to move into scoring position. Cruz reached on a fielder’s choice that tied the game 7-7 before Gonzales’ single cued the celebratory fireworks.