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 is being evaluated and treated for a facial contusion, and his status is day to day. Pittsburgh went on to win, 8-4.
“Just scary when you get hit up in that area,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said. “Looked like it got the C-flap there, but anytime you get hit up in the head area, it's always scary and not something that you really want to mess with.”
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.