Nick Gonzales leads Pirates to series opening win over Brewers

Noah Hiles, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Jun 23, 2025

Published in Baseball

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MILWAUKEE — Coming off one of their better offensive efforts of the season Sunday, the Pittsburgh Pirates continued to hit the ball well Monday, out-slugging the Milwaukee Brewers to a 5-4 victory at American Family Field. Chase Shugart was the game’s winning pitcher, improving to 4-3 on the season. Former Pirate Nick Mears suffered the loss, dropping to 1-1.

The Pirates started the scoring in the top of the first inning on a two-out RBI double from Nick Gonzales that plated Bryan Reynolds, who singled the prior at-bat. Tommy Pham then extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 3-0 in the top of the fourth inning with a two-run homer to center field. The longball was his first of the season.

Pittsburgh comfortably maintained its lead in the first third of the game, thanks to a strong start from Braxton Ashcraft. But once Ashcraft exited, the Brewers began to battle back.

Milwaukee plated a pair of runs in the bottom of the fourth inning, the first on an RBI single from Brice Turang and the second on a sacrifice fly from Caleb Durbin. However, with the tying and go-ahead runs on base, Hunter Stratton tallied a big strikeout against Jake Bauers to escape the frame with no further damage allowed.

Gonzales gave the Pirates an additional insurance run in the top of the fifth on a single to right field, which scored Reynolds. The knock marked his third of the day, although the play also resulted in an out, as he was caught trying to stretch a single into a double. That, however, wasn’t enough to hold off the Brewers.

Stratton returned to start the fifth inning, but didn’t last long, allowing a single and then hitting a batter before he was pulled from the game. Shugart replaced Stratton with no outs and the tying runs on base. The right-hander started his outing by getting a clutch double play from a line drive hit back to the mound, but his luck ran out the following at-bat when Christian Yelich homered to right field to tie the game at four.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa put the Pirates back ahead the following frame with an RBI triple to right field. His knock scored Pham, who singled the at-bat prior. That run would end up being enough, as Shugart, Isaac Mattson and David Bednar finished the job, the latter earning his 11th save of the season.

It was over when …

Kiner-Falefa drove home Pham, putting the Pirates ahead for good.

On the mound

Ashcraft looked comfortable in his first major league start, tossing three scoreless innings before handing the ball over to Stratton. Ashcraft struck out two batters and allowed just one base runner, which came via a two-out single from Yelich in the bottom of the first inning. His ERA dropped down to 1.23 following the outing.

At the plate

Gonzales delivered one of the best hitting efforts the Pirates have received this season, finishing 5 for 5 with two doubles and two RBIs. Reynolds and Pham also had big days at the plate, both providing multi-hit efforts. As a team, the Pirates tallied 14 hits, five more than the Brewers.

Most valuable player

Gonzales, who notched his first five-hit game as a big-leaguer.

Up next

The Pirates will continue their three game series against the Brewers on Tuesday evening at American Family Field. Andrew Heaney (3-6, 3.94) will face off against Freddy Peralta (7-4, 2.76). First pitch is scheduled for 7:40 p.m. ET.

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