Rookie Colin Moran isnt big on showing emotion Benny Snell Jr. Jersey , so he took it in stride after hitting his second grand slam of the season.
Two grand slams in a year is pretty cool. Some guys dont hit one their whole career, Hurdle said after Morans slam helped carry the Pirates to a 7-5 victory against the San Diego Padres on Sunday. In his rookie season, too. He hunts pitches. Hes got a lot of confidence when he goes to the plate. He prepares.
In fact, none of Hurdles 32 home runs over a 10-year career came with the bases loaded.
Corey Dickerson and Elias Diaz also homered for the Pirates, who took two of three games.
Moran connected off Tyson Ross with two outs in the fifth to put the Pirates ahead 6-3. He also hit a grand slam in the home opener on April 2, a 5-4 victory against Minnesota.
Ross, who singled and then had his first career stolen base a half inning earlier, faltered with two outs in the fifth. Austin Meadows doubled, Josh Bell walked and Josh Harrison beat out an infield single to load the bases. Moran then drove a 1-0 pitch to right for his eighth homer.
Its cool, Moran said of hitting two slams in one season. But I guess it was just kind of nice to get some runs in there and get us the lead Zach Gentry Jersey , so that was the biggest thing.
The only other rookie in Pirates history to hit two grand slams in a season was Wally Westlake in 1947. Moran was the first Pirates player with two grand slams in a season since Jose Bautista in 2006.
Those are cool things, Hurdle said. They dont happen for everybody. They dont happen to many guys whatsoever. It goes back to preparation, opportunity and then production, and hes been able to pull that off. Hes ready to hit. He knows what hes hunting to hit.
Moran made his big league debut with Houston in 2016, appearing in nine games. He appeared in seven games with Houston last season before being sent to Pittsburgh along with Joe Musgrove and two other players in the deal for Gerrit Cole. Moran had 34 big league at-bats coming into this season.
Hes one of the calmest people Ive ever played with, Dickerson said. He just has no emotion. He has a good plan. He does the same thing every day. You dont ever change stuff up. Hes very simple. Simple sometimes is the best in great moments like that. He came through.
Dickerson homered in the second, his sixth, and Diaz homered leading off the sixth, his sixth.
The Padres closed to 7-5 on Wil Myers infield RBI single with one out in the sixth and then loaded the bases on Eric Hosmers walk. But Steven Brault got Hunter Renfroe to hit a flyball to right that wasnt deep enough to bring in Jose Pirela, and Kyle Crick struck out pinch-hitter Christian Villanueva.
Crick (1-1) pitched 1 1-3 innings for the win. Felipe Vazquez pitched the ninth for his 17th save.
Ross (5-6), who has been mentioned in trade rumors, was chased by Diazs homer. Ross had his worst start of the season Melvin Gordon III Jersey , allowing seven runs and seven hits, with three walks and no strikeouts.
I didnt throw the ball particularly well, Ross said. I couldve been a lot better with two outs and two strikes. Thats kind of where I really got myself into trouble.
That big fifth inning, had two strikes on Meadows and two outs, and double to left and then everything kind of unfolded from there. Days like this happen. I still had a chance to win that game, just wasnt able to put hitters away when I had two-strike counts.
Said manager Andy Green: Youve got two outs and nobody on and Tyson on the mound, you kind of like that situation right there. Next thing you know, bases are loaded and one pitch is hit out of the ball park, and that kind of changes the trajectory of the game. Its a frustrating one.
Pirates starter Jameson Taillon went 4 2-3 innings, allowing four runs, three earned, and seven hits while striking out four and walking three. He got the first two outs of the fifth before allowing Renfroes homer to left Joey Bosa Jersey , his fifth, that pulled the Padres to 6-4. Taillon allowed singles to Cory Spangenberg and Carlos Asuaje before making way for Edgar Santana, who struck out Freddy Galvis.
Ross hit a sacrifice fly that gave the Padres a 2-1 lead in the second. He singled with two outs in the fourth and then got the first stolen base of his career. He was stranded when Manuel Margot grounded out.
Renfroe also hit an RBI double in the third.
WEATHERS SIGNS
The Padres agreed to terms with LHP Ryan Weathers, their first-round selection, seventh overall, in Junes amateur draft. He is the son of former big league pitcher David Weathers.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Nick Kingham (2-3, 3.82) is expected to be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis to start Monday nights opener of a three-game series at the Los Angeles Dodgers, who will counter with LHP Alex Wood (4-5, 4.00).
Padres: LHP Clayton Richard (7-7, 4.29) is scheduled to start Tuesday nights opener of a two-game series at Oakland, which counters with RHP Chris Bassitt (1-3, 2.82).
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