It was a beautiful Friday night in April at PNC Park, as the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds met in game two of their four game series. Pittsburgh came in having won four straight and brought that number to five after earning a 4-2 victory.
After a scoreless first inning, the Pirates got on the board in the second on a two-run single by Mark Mathias. That lead would hold until the fifth, when Cincinnati plated a pair of runs. Nick Senzel drove in the first run with a single to right. The second run would score on a Jose Barrero sac fly. Mathias would reach on a fielding error allowing Conner Joe to score what would be the winning run in the sixth. Carlos Santana added an insurance run with a double to center in the seventh.
Mitch Keller had another quality start tonight for Pittsburgh and collected his second win of the season. He would pitch six innings, allowing two runs on four hits with five strikeouts and one walk. Robert Stephenson worked the seventh and was followed by Colin Holderman. Holderman would strikeout two batters and allow one hit. The ninth belonged to David Bednar and he would pick up his seventh save of the season, striking out one batter in the process.
The Reds sent Graham Ashcraft to the bump for the start. He worked five innings, striking out four and walking three during that time. Ashcraft would also be tagged for two runs on three hits. Derek Law was saddled with his third loss of the year after allowing one run on two hits with a walk and a strikeout in the sixth. Ian Gilbaut collected the first two outs of the seventh, giving up one run on one hit with two walks and a strikeout. Reiver Sanmartin was the final relief pitcher used for Cincinnati and worked 1.1 innings, collecting one strikeout.
This is the first time in the Derek Shelton era that the Pirates have won five games in a row. The offense was led once again by Joe who had three of the six Pittsburgh hits on the night. The Pirates now have a shot at earning a series victory tomorrow night. Slated to start is Rich Hill for Pittsburgh and Luis Cessa for the Reds. First pitch is 6:35pm
Record vs. Reds: 3-2
Record vs. N.L. Central: 5-4
Record at Home: 5-3
Overall Record: 14-7
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
