Gonzalez and Reynolds homer as the Pirates hold off the Rockies 8-6

DENVER (AP) — Nick Gonzalez and Bryan Reynolds homered to help the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 8-6 on Sunday.

Gonzalez and Reynolds finished with two hits each to help Pittsburgh salvage the finale of the three-game series in what could have been a sweep. The Pirates lost the first two games despite having the tying and winning runs on second and third with one out in the ninth in both games.

Pittsburgh starter Jared Jones left the game after he was struck on the right elbow on a comebacker to end the third inning. The ball deflected to Gonzalez at third, who threw out TJ Rumfield. The Pirates announced initial tests on the elbow were negative.

Yohan Ramirez (5-2) took over in the fourth and tossed two scoreless innings.

The Rockies only hit through six innings was Tyler Freeman’s infield single leading off the second inning. He later scored on a bases-loaded fielder’s choice.

Gonzalez put the Pirates in front in the fourth when he followed Reynolds’ leadoff double with his third home run of the season. Jared Triolo had an RBI double in the fifth against Michael Lorenzen (2-9), who is winless in 10 starts.

Pittsburgh made it 5-1 with four straight hits to begin the sixth inning, and then broke it open in the seventh. Spencer Horwitz and Brandon Lowe led off with singles and Reynolds hit a 433-foot shot into the second deck in right field against Juan Mejia.

Jake McCarthy and Willi Castro led off the eighth with singles and Rumfield followed with his 12th home run. Kyle Karros had an RBI double in the ninth and scored on a throwing error.

Pirates: RHP Mitch Keller (5-4, 5.25) faces Seattle on Tuesday night at home to begin a three-game series.

Rockies: RHP Ryan Feltner (2-2, 5.05) opens a three-game home series against Boston on Monday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen works against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Colorado Rockies' Sterlin Thompson, right, hits an RBI ground ball off Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Jared Jones in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Pittsburgh Pirates third baseman Nick Gonzales throws to first base after fielding an infield single off the bat of Colorado Rockies' Tyler Freeman in the second inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Pittsburgh Pirates relief pitcher Yohan Ramírez works against the Colorado Rockies in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Endy Rodríguez, left, congratulates Nick Gonzales (3) who crosses home plate after hitting a two-run home run off Colorado Rockies starting pitcher Michael Lorenzen in the fourth inning of a baseball game Sunday, June 21, 2026, in Denver. (AP Photo/David Zalubowski)

MIAMI GARDENS, Fla. (AP) — Sunday is Father's Day. Except, perhaps, for Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha.

The feel-good story of the World Cup was on the field Sunday, when Cape Verde took on Uruguay in the second group-stage match for both teams. And Vozinha — whose name is Josimar José Évora Dias — had his mother in the stands for that match; she was unable to attend Cape Verde's stunning opening draw against Spain because she couldn't obtain a visa.

Ana Candida Evora is here now, though — making Cape Verde's story even better.

“I want to thank all the fans, everyone who helped in the process, for the support you gave to the team, especially to Cabo Verde,” Evora said Sunday in remarks distributed by FIFA in a video message. “We’re all rooting for Cabo Verde to play well, to shine on the pitch. The players need to have faith and everything will go well.

“Keep your heads held high, go onto that pitch, push for a goal and you’ll perform beautifully, my boys. A kiss for you, be strong and brave. Blue Sharks!”

The team is commonly called ‘Tubarões Azuis' in Portuguese, which translates to Blue Sharks.

Evora carried a Cabo Verde flag into the stadium, her son's name and jersey number on the back of her shirt, and she was ushered into a suite to watch the contest. Vozinha heard roars from the fans — even with a mostly pro-Uruguay crowd — whenever he was shown on the video screens during warmups, and got perhaps the loudest ovation of any player when starters were introduced.

Evora's visa issues — primarily raising the money needed for one — were worked out after the U.S. State Department, FIFA, U.S. lawmakers and Cape Verde's soccer federation evidently combined efforts and cleared a path for Evora to come to Miami. She arrived Friday afternoon after more than 24 hours of travel from Cape Verde and was immediately surrounded by FIFA officials and volunteers as she made her way through the airport.

FIFA even hosted her briefly at the organization's tournament headquarters in Florida over the weekend, officials said Sunday.

Vozinha had about 50,000 followers on Instagram as the World Cup was starting. He was up to 15 million followers by game time Sunday after he grabbed the world's sporting attention by leading Cape Verde to a scoreless draw against Spain — one of the pre-tournament favorites to win the title.

That means he gained about 30 followers every second from the end of the Spain match to the start of the one against Uruguay.

He went viral after that match against Spain with tearful comments, wishing that his late grandparents could have seen him play in the World Cup and that his mother's visa issues had been resolved in time to be there. That sparked an immediate effort to find ways for Evora to get to the U.S. for the tournament.

And the tie, combined with a story of a 40-year-old goalie and his mom, brought attention onto Cape Verde's soccer team like never before.

“It’s been intense,” Cape Verde forward Garry Rodrigues said. "But as we are professionals, the game (against) Spain is now in the past. ... We're still human. Seeing everything on the internet has been very intense. But we cannot use that as an excuse. We know our targets. We know our goals.”

AP World Cup: https://apnews.com/fifa-world-cup

Cabo Verde goalkeeper Vozinha, left, reacts after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Erik S. Lesser)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha celebrates as holds the flag of his country after the World Cup Group H soccer match between Spain and Cape Verde in Atlanta, Monday, June 15, 2026. (AP Photo/Mike Stewart)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha waves as he leaves after a team visit to the pitch on the eve of their Group H World Cup match against Uruguay, in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Cape Verde goalkeeper Vozinha walks on the pitch during a team visit on the eve of their Group H World Cup match against Uruguay, in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)

Cape Verde goalkeepers Vozinha, right, and Marcio Rosa walk onto the pitch for a team visit on the eve of their Group H World Cup match against Uruguay, in Miami Gardens, Fla., Saturday, June 20, 2026. (AP Photo/Rebecca Blackwell)