The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds began a three-game series at PNC Park on Monday night. Pittsburgh has had success against Cincinnati this year and were one win away from clinching the season series between these two long time rivals. The Pirates were able to get that accomplishment out of the way, by opening the series with an 8-3 victory.
The Reds jumped out to an early lead in the first when Kyle Farmer hit a sac fly to left. They were able to double that lead in the third when TJ Friedl blasted a 410 ft. home run to right. Pittsburgh began to battle back with two runs in the fifth. The first happened when Kevin Newman scored on a Friedl throwing error. The second run came when Zack Collins crossed home on a fielder’s choice hit by Bryan Newman.
Jack Suwinski gave the Pirates a two-run lead in the seventh when he doubled home Oneil Cruz and Miguel Andujar. Suwinski then came in to score on a Newman single to right. The fourth and final run of the inning came on a Collings sac fly to left. In the eighth inning Andujar would hit a sac fly to left to score Cruz. The final Pittsburgh run came when Ke’Bryan Hayes hit an RBI single to right center. Cincinnati tacked on one run in the ninth when Aristides Aquino hit a 400 ft. solo homer to left.
Roansy Contreras pitched four innings for the Pirates tonight. He allowed two runs on two hits with two strikeouts. His counterpart, Chase Anderson, also worked four innings. Anderson allowed one run on four hits with five strikeouts. Chase De Jong and Yohan Ramirez each pitched two innings out of the Pittsburgh bullpen. De Jong would only walk one batter, while Ramirez allowed two hits to go with two strikeouts. Reds relief pitcher Derek Law was tagged with the loss after giving up four runs on three hits in just a third of an inning.
Cruz committed his 16th error of the season tonight, though Cincinnati had two on the night. The Pirates outhit the Reds 13-5. Game two of this three game series will take place Tuesday night at 6:35pm. Scheduled to start for Pittsburgh is Mitch Keller, while Cincinnati will send Hunter Greene to the bump.
Record vs. Reds: 10-7
Record vs. N.L. Central: 30-38
Record at Home: 30-46
Overall Record: 57-97
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
