Aug. 6, 2025: Giants top Pirates 4-2; Dominic Smith’s pinch-hit double sparks a ninth-inning rally, but Jerar Encarnación exits with a hamstring injury.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was the kind of ninth-inning rally that defines a team's character, a thrilling comeback sealed by a perfect pinch-hit from Dominic Smith to give the Giants a 4-2 victory over the Pirates. But the celebration on Wednesday night was tinged with concern, as the very player who had electrified the offense, Jerar Encarnación, suffered a significant hamstring injury that puts a damper on a crucial series win.
Just two games back from one injury, Jerar Encarnación launched a 442-foot home run before suffering a significant right hamstring injury in the very same game.
Trailing in the top of the ninth, the Giants' offense sparked to life. Jung Hoo Lee started the rally with a crucial double off Pirates reliever Dennis Santana, setting the stage for a dramatic finish. Manager Bob Melvin made the call to the bench for Dominic Smith, who delivered in the biggest way possible, lacing a go-ahead double to score Lee. The momentum continued as Patrick Bailey added an RBI single for a crucial insurance run. The bullpen was lights-out, with Ryan Walker striking out the side in the eighth to earn the win and Randy Rodríguez slamming the door with a perfect ninth for his third save.
The triumph was bittersweet due to the brutal turn of events for Jerar Encarnación. In just his second game back from a strained left oblique, he was on fire, launching his second homer in as many games—a monstrous 442-foot blast in the fifth inning. His power was palpable. But in the seventh, he pulled up lame running to first, clutching his right hamstring. Manager Bob Melvin confirmed the severity, stating Encarnación is expected to miss 'considerable time' pending an MRI. For a player just finding his groove, it's a devastating blow.
While the big-league club deals with a tough injury, there's good news brewing in the minor leagues. Following a strong 2025 draft and several key trade deadline acquisitions, the Giants' farm system has skyrocketed from last place to No. 23 in Bleacher Report's latest rankings. The infusion of talent includes players like right-hander Blade Tidwell, now at Triple-A, and first-round pick Gavin Kilen, a second baseman who tore up the SEC. While the system is still feeling the loss of James Tibbs III from the Rafael Devers trade, this rapid improvement signals a much healthier long-term outlook for the organization.
The Giants leave Pittsburgh with a hard-fought series win, a testament to their bullpen's grit and clutch hitting. But the joy is tempered by the loss of Jerar Encarnación, whose power will be sorely missed. As the team looks for the next man up to fill that void, fans can take some solace in the fact that the organization's future is looking brighter than it has in a long time, with a newly respected farm system ready to start churning out the next wave of talent.
