PITTSBURGH -- Pedro Alvarez stood in front of his locker after the Pirates' 4-2 win over the Marlins on Monday night and searched for the right words to describe the ball he crushed out of the deepest part of PNC Park.
A locker away, shortstop Jordy Mercer provided a more concise summary: "That ball was crushed!"
Facing Miami starter David Phelps in the sixth inning, Alvarez unloaded on a 2-0 fastball, ripping a solo shot on a line just to the left of the notch in left-center field.
It was Alvarez's ninth homer of the season, tied with Starling Marte for the team lead.