PITTSBURGH -- Nick Gonzales doesn't necessarily look the part of a power hitter. The Pirates rookie infielder is listed at 5-foot-9 and 190 pounds.

However, the 24-year-old right-handed hitter has some pop and showed it Sunday in the Pirates’ 6-3 loss to the Brewers at PNC Park.

Gonzales provided the afternoon’s biggest highlight for the Pirates by hitting a 414-foot home run to the shrubbery in straightaway center field to open the scoring. He also had a single and finished 2-for-4.

“We know he can drive the ball,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said. “He creates torque. We’ve seen both of his home runs hit to center field. The situation there, where it’s runner on second, nobody out, he’s trying to drive the ball in the middle of the field. He showed the ability to do that.”

Gonzales’ first career home run on Tuesday night off San Diego Padres reliever Ray Kerr at PNC Park was even more impressive. It traveled 442 feet to center field.

“That’s pretty cool to hit it out there, staying through the ball pretty straight,” Gonzales said. “Good sign for us and the hitting coaches.”

Gonzales made his Major League debut on June 23 and went 0-for-8 in his first three games. Since then, he's 6-for-19 (.316) with one double, one triple and two homers in six games.

“Just going about it every day, taking it one day at a time,” Gonzales said. “Starting out a little slow my first few games here. I’ve had a few slow games before in Single-A, Double-A, Triple-A. It happens. Good to be rolling.”

Gonzales, who was the Pirates’ first-round Draft pick in 2020, hit .257 with six homers and 27 RBIs in 57 games at Triple-A Indianapolis to start the season. Like every other player who comes to the Major Leagues, Gonzalez is learning to adjust to better pitching.

“It’s a fun challenge for me,” Gonzales said. “I’m excited coming to the park every day and get to see the guy I’m facing, then get in the cage and get with the hitting coaches and working on whatever we need to work on.

“You have to hit the mistakes up here. You get a good pitch to hit, you have to do damage with it early, make the adjustments and go from there. Try not to expand too much. Stay within your approach and everything like that and put a good swing on the ball.”

Gonzales might continue to get regular playing time after rookie second baseman Ji Hwan Bae was placed on the injured list Sunday with a left ankle sprain. Gonzales has made seven starts in the big leagues, four at second base and three at shortstop.

“I’m here and ready to play whenever,” Gonzales said. “Whatever the team needs, obviously I’ll be ready. Whether that’s playing every day or playing a few times a week, it doesn’t matter to me.”

After Gonzales gave the Pirates the lead in the second, William Contreras hit a three-run home run off Rich Hill (7-8) in the third inning to put the Brewers in front, 3-2. Those were the only runs Hill allowed in five innings, but Milwaukee added three runs in the final two innings against the Pittsburgh's bullpen to put the game away.

The Pirates (39-44) have lost back-to-back games following a four-game winning streak.

“We gave away a couple of opportunities today,” said Shelton, whose team was 1-for-7 with runners in scoring position. That lone hit was Gonzales’ home run.