After winning the season opener against the Chicago Cubs at Wrigley Field last week, the Pittsburgh Pirates have now lost three straight games. This, after a 5-3 defeat against the Cincinnati Reds in the first of a three game series at Great American Ballpark.
JT Brubaker started for Pittsburgh, giving up one run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts in his four innings of work. The Reds sent Jose De Leon to the mound, who gave up two runs on three hits with nine strikeouts in his five innings of work.
The Pirates got off to a hot start tonight with the bats, hitting two solo homeruns in the top of the first inning to snag the early lead. Phillip Evans hit a solo blast to get the Bucs on the board, and Colin Moran later doubled their lead with a solo shot of his own.
De Leon helped his own cause in the bottom of the second with an RBI single to cut the Bucs’ lead in half. Mike Moustakas tied the game in the fifth with a solo homerun, and Nick Castellanos’s solo homerun in the seventh put the Reds in front.
A single by Jonathan India and a double by Aristides Aquino added two more runs, which it turns out they would need.
The Pirates did make things interesting in the ninth inning. After a solo homerun by Bryan Reynolds cut the lead to just two runs, the Bucs put runners on first and second with two outs for Kevin Newman. Unfortunately, Newman grounded out peacefully, ending the Pirates’ comeback and the game.
This was certainly not the way to start a division series after losing over the weekend. As we have said in previous years, the Pirates need to get off to a good start this season. They can’t hit a huge slide and bury themselves early. After a nice win to kick off the year, they have now lost three straight games. They need to get back on track and get a win tomorrow before things start to get out of control.
Pittsburgh will hand the ball to Trevor Cahill tomorrow night in the second game of this series. Wade Miley will take the mound for Cincinnati.
Record vs. Reds: 0-1
Record vs. N.L. Central: 1-3
Record on the Road: 1-3
Overall Record: 1-3
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
