For the second time this season, the Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds met at Great American Ballpark to play a doubleheader. Coming off a sixteen-run defeat to the New York Yankees, Pittsburgh was looking to get that bad taste out of their mouth. Solid pitching and some clutch runs got them back on the winning side, as they earned a 4-2 victory over Cincinnati.
Roansy Contreras earned his third win of the year by pitching six innings and allowing one run on four hits. He would also strike out seven and walk one batter. That lone run came in the bottom of the fifth inning on a Donovan Solano 400 ft. home run to center. This would tie the game at one after Diego Castillo gave the Pirates a one run lead with a 410 ft. solo homer to center in the top half of the inning.
Reds starter Mike Minor allowed four runs on five hits while pitching 6.1 innings this afternoon. Minor walked two batters and struck out eight during that time. Pittsburgh took the lead for good in the sixth on a Michael Chavis two RBI double. The Pirates added an insurance run in the seventh when Jason Delay collected his first Major League hit and RBI with a double to right center.
Duane Underwood Jr. struck out two batters and allowed one hit while pitching the seventh inning. Cincinnati scored their final run of the game in the eighth when Tommy Pham singled to center, which came off of Wil Crowe. Crowe allowed one run on two hits with a strikeout in his inning of work. The ninth belonged to David Bednar, who collected his 14th save of the year while allowing one hit and striking out a batter.
This was a much needed a win and a solid way to open up this four city, twelve game road trip. Castillo led the Pirates with two hits, and five other Buccos had one hit apiece. Game two of this day night doubleheader will take place at 7:10pm. Scheduled to start is Bryse Wilson for Pittsburgh and Jeff Hoffman for the Reds.
Record vs. Reds: 4-4
Record vs. N.L. Central: 16-25
Record on the Road: 14-25
Overall Record: 34-48
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
