After beating the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates lost two straight to N.L. Central division foes, including Sunday afternoon’s 9-5 defeat at PNC Park.
Zach Thompson fell to 3-10 on the season, giving up three runs on eight hits in five innings. Manny Buelos and Colin Holderman were equally ineffective in relief, giving up four runs and two runs respectively. The winning pitcher for Cincinnati was Mike Minor (2-10), giving up five runs on nine hits in 5.2 innings on the mound.
Jake Fraley’s solo homerun in the top of the first scored the game’s first run, but the Bucs answered in the bottom half of the inning with a pair of runs. A single by Ben Gamel and a double by Rodolfo Castro each scored a run, and the Pirates led 2-1.
A two-run homerun by Mike Moustakas in the third put the Reds back in front, and then they took control of the game with a four-run sixth inning. A two-run single by Fraley made it 5-2, and a triple by Jonathan India and a single by Donovan Solano made it a five-run game.
Pittsburgh got back into the game with three runs in the bottom of the sixth. A double by Tucupita Marcano scored a pair, and a single by Jason Delay cut the lead to 7-5.
But Cincinnati effectively put the game away with a two-run eighth inning, coming off singles by Solano and Nick Senzel to make it 9-5, which would be the final score.
The Pirates’ post-All Star break freefall continued this weekend with a series loss to the Reds. There’s not time to feel bad for themselves, as they welcome the Atlanta Braves to town for a series at PNC Park beginning on Monday.
Record vs. Reds: 5-7
Record vs. N.L. Central: 22-31
Record at Home: 26-33
Overall Record: 47-74
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
