SAN DIEGO — Time after time, the Pirates had chances, opportunities to end this game long before its actual conclusion, and they failed to come through.
Nick Gonzales changed that nearly four hours after the first pitch when he singled up the middle in the top of the 12th to score Jared Triolo, producing a 3-2 Pirates win at Petco Park.
Gonzales knocked a full-count fastball up the middle for his second hit of the game. Coupled with Yohan Ramirez nailing it down in the bottom half, it was enough to help the Pirates improve to 64-69.
Pittsburgh reclaimed some momentum after what could be a season-defining road trip started with three straight losses at Dodger Stadium.
The Pirates had been 0 for 13 with runners in scoring position prior to Gonzales’ single, stranding 12. But when Ramirez struck out three in the bottom half, it was the Pirates who snagged a hard-fought win and improved to 6-9 in extra-innings games this season.
Kirby Yates, the former Padre, picked up the win.
Braxton Ashcraft, who has found another gear this month, gave up one run over six innings to notch his 13th quality start of the season. Meanwhile, Esmerlyn Valdez hit his first homer in 25 games, the first of two runs the Pirates scored in the sixth inning.
After the Pirates made three straight outs in the top of the 11th, Yates issued a one-out walk to second baseman Jake Cronenworth. Following another walk, Yates got a strikeout and a lineout to center to escape trouble.
In the 10th, the Pirates had Jake Mangum on third with nobody out. Bryan Reynolds struck out. Oneil Cruz bounced to Padres pitcher Adrian Morejon, which started a succession of throws to get Mangum. Brandon Lowe grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
The Pirates also had an opportunity to score against two-time All-Star Mason Miller (Bethel Park) in the ninth, as Triolo walked and Gonzales singled. Mangum pinch hit and rolled one to the right side. However, Cronenworth made an acrobatic play for the third out.
San Diego had its own misfortunes in the bottom half, as catcher Luis Campusano was doubled off at second whenever Spencer Horwitz caught a poor bunt attempt from left fielder Dustin Harrison. Camilo Doval struck out right Fernando Tatis Jr. to send the game to the 11th inning.
Cronenworth was a factor the entire game. In addition to driving in the game-tying run in the eighth, he robbed Mangum with a diving play in the ninth, then had a fancy glove flip to get Spencer Horwitz in the 11th.
The Pirates knew this series wouldn't be easy, as the Padres had won 21 of 28 since July 24, the best record in baseball during that stretch. They’re top-10 in ERA and runs scored this month.
Pittsburgh failed to get much going against starter Robbie Ray through the first five innings, recording just three singles and only once advancing a runner to second base.
But their fortunes changed with one loud, overdue swing from Valdez. The Magician crushed a 1-1 fastball located middle-away from Ray, driving it 414 feet to center at 111.6 mph to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
It was the 15th of the season for Valdez. Not only that, it was his first homer since July 26, ending a stretch of 24 games without one.
Team-wise, it snapped the Pirates’ scoreless streak at exactly 22 innings, matching their previous 2026 total.
It was a solid approach against Ray, whose goal has always been to disrupt timing, hence why manager Don Kelly said before the game that he wanted Pirates hitters to stay up the middle. Valdez did exactly that.
Rafael Flores Jr. added on by smashing a 2-2 fastball that Padres reliever Bradgley Rodriguez left over the heart of the plate, scoring Bryan Reynolds to produce a 2-0 Pirates advantage.
Similar to Ray, Ashcraft mostly cruised through five innings, giving up just two hits and walking none. But the Padres got a run back during a wacky sixth, when Ashcraft was called for a balk because he didn’t declare his intent to deliver from the windup with a runner on third.
The call irritated the Pirates but scored catcher Freddy Fermin, cutting Pittsburgh’s lead to 2-1.
Gregory Soto kept the Padres off the board in the seventh before Luke Weaver ran into trouble in the eighth. Weaver gave up a one-out double to left fielder Dustin Harris, who scored on Cronenworth's line-drive single up the middle.
Cronenworth connected on a 2-2 cutter down in the zone from Weaver, tying the game at 2.
Ashcraft delivered his third consecutive quality start with six innings of one-run ball. He allowed four hits and a walk while striking out two, lowering his ERA on the season to 3.59.
Working with Flores again, a tandem that has clicked well, Ashcraft remained committed to his sinker and threw spin stuff nearly 50% of the time. That sinker average 97.8 mph, up 0.9 mph from his season average.
Over his past three starts, Ashcraft has allowed just three earned runs in 23 innings, which works out to a 1.17 ERA. He’s walked two and struck out 16 during that time.
In August, Ashcraft has allowed one earned run or fewer in four of his five starting, totaling a 1.91 ERA and 0.67 WHIP this month, an impressive rebound from his 7.78 ERA in July.
Jason Mackey: Jason.Mackey@pirates.com and @JMackey_PGH on X.