Hayes’ home run was an awestruck moment for Pittsburgh Pirates, as it importantly increased the 53% probability of their win. Hayes is excited and describes it as one of his best hits or home runs in his career. Hayes went up to the bat with the intention of picking up his teammate. Ji Hwan Bae, who had just struck out, was looking for a hanging breaking ball on the first pitch. Hayes connected with the ball, and the crowd celebrated the victory.
Following Hayes’s homer, another player, Josh Palacios, who is playing his third MLB season with his team, stepped out of the team. Palacios had not hit a home running his whole career until this moment came, with a stretch of 122 plate appearances without one. However, Palacios swung at a hanging changeup, sending it deep to right-center field for a 426-foot home run. Palacios was very overwhelmed and stated that it was the greatest feeling that he ever experienced in his baseball game experience.
Palacios has been performing well in recent few years for Pirates with a 286 batting average, a home run, a triple, and a double in only 32 plate appearances. He had also been productive in the Minor Leagues this season, with a .368/.433/.598 slash line in 21 games. Pirates manager, Derek Shelton, commended Palacios for his hard work paying off and achieving this milestone in a crucial moment to extend the team’s lead.
