PITTSBURGH -- Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales exited Friday night’s game in the bottom of the fifth inning after a hit-by-pitch to the helmet. Gonzales was hit on a 94.3 mph four-seam fastball from Red Sox left-handed reliever Jovani Morán.
Gonzales was checked on by the medical staff and walked down to first base before being pinch-run for by Jacob Gonzalez. The Pirates' 2020 first-round Draft pick is batting a team-high .307 on the season after developing at the Major League level the past few years.
Pittsburgh led, 4-2, at the time of Gonzales’ exit, and scored three more runs in the frame after Brandon Lowe hit a three-run homer to score Gonzalez and Bryan Reynolds. Gonzalez took over at shortstop to begin the top of the sixth and Jared Triolo moved from shortstop to third base.