Nick Gonzales' 12th-inning RBI single sends Pirates past Padres 3-2

SAN DIEGO (AP) — Nick Gonzales led off the 12th inning with an RBI single and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped their three-game skid with a 3-2 victory over the San Diego Padres on Monday night.

Esmerlyn Valdez homered and Rafael Flores Jr. had an RBI double in the sixth for the Pirates, who rebounded from getting swept at Dodger Stadium last weekend with just their 11th win in 31 games.

Jake Cronenworth tied it in the eighth with a two-out RBI single for the Padres, whose three-game winning streak ended with only their eighth loss in 29 games. San Diego’s eight-game home winning streak also ended.

San Diego loaded the bases with one out in the 11th, but Kirby Yates (2-5) struck out Jackson Merrill and got Xander Bogaerts to line out. Merrill went 0 for 5 on his bobblehead night, striking out on three pitches with the bases loaded in both the eighth and 11th, and also failed to make a diving catch on Flores' RBI double.

After Jared Triolo scored on Gonzales’ single off Jeremiah Estrada (2-3), Yohan Ramirez struck out the side in the 12th to earn his second save.

Braxton Ashcraft pitched six strong innings of four-hit ball for Pittsburgh. He has allowed just three runs over 23 innings in his last three starts.

Robbie Ray dueled Ashcraft through five scoreless innings before Valdez led off the sixth with a 414-foot shot to center field. Ray allowed five hits and struck out five in his fourth start for the Padres.

Freddy Fermin doubled later in the sixth and eventually scored on Ashcraft's balk.

Padres closer Mason Miller allowed two baserunners and barely escaped a ninth-inning jam while facing his hometown team on his 28th birthday.

Paul Skenes (9-11, 3.95 ERA) returns from another rocky outing on normal rest for the Pirates on Tuesday. Michael King (8-9, 3.38 ERA) makes his team-leading 27th start for the Padres.

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

San Diego Padres' Robbie Ray winds up against a Pittsburgh Pirates batter in the second inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

San Diego Padres' Freddy Fermin gestures towards the dugout after hitting a single against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Braxton Ashcraft works against the San Diego Padres in the first inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

Pittsburgh Pirates' Esmerlyn Valdez (55) is congratulated by Oneil Cruz, center right, after hitting a solo home run against the San Diego Padres in the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Derrick Tuskan)

SEATTLE (AP) — Cal Raleigh busted out of a season-long slump with the first three-homer game of his career Monday night.

The switch-hitting catcher capped a five-run first inning with a two-run shot off struggling Philadelphia Phillies ace Zack Wheeler. Raleigh and Cole Young opened the fifth with back-to-back homers, chasing Wheeler, and Raleigh connected for another solo shot off reliever Chase Shugart in the seventh to give him 17 home runs this season.

“I had never done that before — at any level. So, hard to fathom, and it was a fun night,” Raleigh said.

It was the first multihomer game of the year for Raleigh, who finished 3 for 3 with a walk in a 9-2 victory and raised his batting average from .159 to .167. He began the night with a strikeout rate of 31.2%.

“I’ve been feeling better in the box,” Raleigh said. “Physically, trying to just get my hands back sooner and I feel like I’ve done a better job of that. And then mentally, it’s just been about that belief and just having that hope and that optimism every single day. Not getting too down, not getting too up and, you know, trying to just be ready and prepared for the game.”

Raleigh pulled all three homers to right field from the left side of the plate, becoming the 13th player in franchise history to hit three home runs in a game. The previous one was teammate Dominic Canzone on Sept. 16 last year.

The only other Seattle catcher to accomplish the feat was current Mariners manager Dan Wilson in April 1996.

Raleigh was runner-up for the AL MVP award last year, when he led the majors with 60 home runs and added 125 RBIs. He helped the Mariners reach the American League Championship Series, where they lost in seven games to Toronto.

“Finding the barrel more often, taking his walks more often, swinging at better pitches more often. Tonight was just a combination of all of that again,” Wilson said. “To get up there and do it left-handed like he did tonight, I think all of us love to see it and love to see the smile and just all the work that he’s put in. So, a big night for him.”

Mariners starting pitcher Logan Gilbert was thrilled to see it, too.

“That’s just huge I think for confidence and for (getting) rolling,” Gilbert said. “You know how this team does when he gets hot and gets rolling, so I think we’re in a good spot.”

See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh (29) is greeted by teammate Weston Wilson after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh, center, reacts after accidentally jumping into the ceiling of the dugout while celebrating his solo home run with pitcher Bryce Miller, left, during the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Philadelphia Phillies, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh jogs the bases after hitting a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh follows through on a solo home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the seventh inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Cal Raleigh hits a two-run home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the first inning of a baseball game, Monday, Aug. 24, 2026, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)