pittsburgh– nathan church Making a habit of stealing home runs.
Rookie left fielder’s latest save the game St. Louis Cardinals.
church ended win 5-4 Above pittsburgh pirates by looting Nick Gonzales What would have been a walk-off, two-run homer leaped over the left field wall on Wednesday night.
Just four days earlier, Church hit a potential tying homer away from Seattle mitch garver In the sixth inning. The 25-year-old also had his first career two-homer game in an 11–9 loss to the Mariners.
On Opening Day, Church made a spectacular catch over the top of the wall against Tampa Bay Ryan Vilade. Then even a homer would have tied the game.
“It’s all out in left field,” the Cardinals starter said. andre pallanteWhich won on Wednesday after giving one run in six innings. “We love having church there.”
According to MLB Statcast, Gonzales’ drive over 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, all except PNC Park, Baltimore’s Camden Yards and Texas’ Globe Life Field.
Church said his ability to stop balls over the wall is no coincidence, adding that he works on them at the beginning of every series with outfield coach Jon Jay.
“It was just something we did as soon as we got here,” Church said. “Knowing the walls and how they’ll play is just doing that homework beforehand, so when games like this come, you’re ready for it.”
preventive Riley O’BrienJoe, who got his eighth save thanks to a grab, put his arms above his head and looked dazed to the left while Church casually walked away from the wall with the ball in his gloves.
“At first I thought it was gone,” O’Brien said.
He added, “I said, ‘I love you. Thank you for understanding.'”
Church earned a reputation as an elite defender in the minor leagues as an 11th-round draft pick by the Cardinals in 2022. He’s been at his best at the plate, hitting .281 with four homers over the last eight games.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.
