Church robs would-be walk-off, saves Cards win
PITTSBURGH — Nathan Church is making a habit of stealing home runs. Church ended a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates by robbing Nick Gonzales of what would have been a walk-off, two-run homer by making a leaping catch at the left-field wall Wednesday night. Just four days earlier, Church took a potential tying homer away from Seattle's Mitch Garver in the sixth inning.
On Opening Day, Church made a dazzling catch at the top of the wall against Tampa Bay's Ryan Vilade . Gonzales' drive above the top of the 6-foot wall — 373 feet from home plate — would have been a home run in 27 of the 30 big league ballparks, as reported by MLB Statcast, all but PNC Park, Baltimore's Camden Yards and Texas' Globe Life Field. Reliever Riley O'Brien , who got his eighth save thanks to the grab, held his arms over his head with a stunned look toward left as Church casually jogged away from the wall with the ball in his glove.
Analysis: Why This Matters
This story matters because PITTSBURGH Nathan can change the trajectory of a season — and a franchise.
Key Takeaways
- On Opening Day, Church made a dazzling catch at the top of the wall against Tampa Bay's Ryan Vilade .
- Church ended a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates by robbing Nick Gonzales of what would have been a walk-off, two-run homer by making a leaping catch at the left-field wall Wednesday night.
- Just four days earlier, Church took a potential tying homer away from Seattle's Mitch Garver in the sixth inning.
Updates from the locker room, league office, and front office are likely soon — we'll keep you posted.
Source: ESPN Sports