SAN FRANCISCO -- This is an Erik Gonzalez story — and it's positive.
Gonzalez didn't play a role in the Pirates' four-run ninth inning that sealed their 6-4 comeback victory over the Giants Monday night at Oracle Park. That's true.
But he did do this:
And this:
And, heck, even this:
You've been in the comments section all year ragging on Gonzalez. I've seen it.
And it was deserved.
Gonzalez came into this one slashing .213/.271/.258. He's hit zero home runs, one triple and two doubles. He injured Starling Marte and himself back in late April — against the Giants, oddly enough — meaning he's exactly as likely to destroy a human body on the field as he is to hit a double.
Remember that? Our own Matt Sunday was there in the dugout that night at PNC Park to capture the carnage:
Gonzalez literally fractured his clavicle there, requiring surgery.
And that sequence, until tonight, perfectly summed up Gonzalez's 2019. The "young Freddy Galvis," as Pirates brass proudly touted him heading into the 2019 campaign, has been a complete disaster. No, worse. A liability. The sheer inclusion of Gonzalez's name on a lineup card was enough to send fans to their keyboards, clicking away in a fit of unbridled displeasure.
But tonight?
Gonzalez played some baseball tonight. And believe me: I'm not saying this will become the norm from him. I'm not saying he lit it up. He wasn't the best player wearing black out there, and he's not the guy who will receive the majority of the focus postgame. We'll get to those players in a second.
It's just that, for a stretch of three hours and nine minutes on Monday, Sept. 9, 2019, here in Northern California, you could kind of see what Gonzalez can do.
Clint Hurdle appreciated it:
"Erik, that's a really good observation," Hurdle began after the game. "He's working hard to add value for himself and for us. Yes — three or four [great plays] off the top of my head, two slow-rollers and then the bullet to the backhand. He's an athletic guy. We've talked about it ever since we got him. [He's] an athletic defender with good range. I like the way that he finished up tonight ...
"It was a good night for Erik."
It sure was, Mr. Hurdle.
Finally.
• OK, so here's the real game story:
The Pirates trailed 4-2 heading into the top of the ninth, and a pinch-hitting Kevin Kramer got the party started with a base hit. Cole Tucker grounded out, and Kramer advanced to second.
Josh Bell walked. Then Elias Diaz did this:
Sure looked like Kramer could've come home there, eh? Don't tell him that. I asked him if he was held there or, you know, what the heck happened, and he made it clear:
"Yes, I was [told to hold]," Kramer was telling me at his locker. "You know, being down two runs, that situation, there's no reason to make an out there at the plate. We were still a hit away, and, you know, [Kevin Newman] came up and got the hit. So, being down two runs, my run not meaning anything, it's the right play."
Newman did indeed "come up and get the hit," a looping single that scored two and locked the game at four. That set the stage for Bryan Reynolds, in his first game at Oracle Park, the place he'd call home if not for the Andrew McCutchen trade in 2018, to do work.
And he did.
"Newman broke it open, tied it up, and at that point I was kinda playing with house money," Reynolds was saying at his locker. "I was just trying to have a good at-bat, you know, put something in play and hopefully get that run in."
A sacrifice fly from Jose Osuna brought in Newman in a wild, scrambly play at the plate, and that sealed the 6-4 win.
Because once the Pirates have the lead with the game going to the bottom of the ninth, it's Felipe Vazquez time. And Felipe Vazquez time almost always goes like this:
Two quick strikeouts, and then ...
Ballgame.
• Besides that eventual game-winning single, Reynolds tallied a double that tied him with Paul Waner for the most doubles (35) by a Pirates rookie. Waner set that mark in 1926.
"That's awesome," Reynolds said. "To have your name mentioned with all those guys is cool."
• Trevor Williams wasn't at his best tonight, allowing four earned runs over 5 2/3 innings. Hurdle called it a "blue-collar" effort, though, as Williams hung around and battled out of tough situations to minimize the damage time and again.
"Baseball's a game of inches," Williams was saying. "They had some tough hits against me tonight and they also put together some good AB's where they hit my mistakes. I'm thankful that I was able to keep us within striking distance, especially against such a tough lineup and especially against a starter like Bumgarner who was doing really well against our lineup tonight."
• Jacob Stallings got the first hit of the game with a single in the top of the second, then he ended the fourth by gunning down a Jaylin Davis steal attempt.
Immediately following that, Stallings did this to lead off the fifth:
OK, Mr. Stallings. OK. We see you.
• Reynolds Watch: Besides lowkey winning the game, it was a 2-for-5 night for Reynolds, raising his average to .328 and pulling him into a third-place tie with Ketel Marte. Anthony Rendon (.337) and Christian Yelich (.330) still outpace him.
• Madison Bumgarner is still good at baseball. He went seven full innings, allowing six hits and two earned runs while posting two walks against five strikeouts.
"He's a really good pitcher," Hurdle said.
Well put.
THE ESSENTIALS
• Boxscore
THE INJURIES
• Chris Archer (10-day IL, shoulder)
• Chris Stratton (10-day IL, right side inflammation)
• Yefry Ramirez (10-day IL, right calf strain)
• Gregory Polanco (60-day IL, shoulder)
• Lonnie Chisenhall (60-day IL, last seen at the Springfield Mystery Spot)
Here's the most recent full report.
THE SCHEDULE
The Pirates are right back here tomorrow for another 9:45 p.m. ET start. I'll have that full coverage for you once again, starting with the opening of the clubhouse at 6:30 p.m. ET. Hurdle will speak at 7:15 p.m. ET, then we'll roll into the game and postgame fun.
THE COVERAGE
All our baseball content, including Mound Visit by Jason Rollison, Indy Watch by Matt Welch, and Altoona Watch by Jarrod Prugar, can be found on our Pirates page.
