The Pittsburgh Pirates scored four runs in the first inning and held on late to beat the Cincinnati Reds by a 4-3 score at PNC Park.
Following a series sweep of the Colorado Rockies at Coors Field, the Bucs took that momentum with them on the plane ride back to Pittsburgh, and they have now won four consecutive games to improve to 13-7 on the young season.
Roansy Contreras started for the Bucs, giving up one run on five hits with eight strikeouts in 6.2 innings, earning his second victory of the season (2-1). The bullpen was less than stellar for Pittsburgh tonight, making the game a little closer than any of us wanted. But David Bednar came in and closed out the game in the ninth, notching his sixth save of the season.
Luke Weaver took the loss for the Reds, due to that rocky first inning. He ended up battling his way through six innings, giving up four runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts. After the opening frame, he kept the Bucs’ bats in check throughout, but the damage had already been done.
The Pirates came out swinging in the very first inning, which proved to be enough to win the game in the end. A three-run homerun by Connor Joe scored Ke’Bryan Hayes and Bryan Reynolds to make it 3-0, and was followed by Jack Suwinski’s solo homerun on the very next at-bat. Pittsburgh led 4-0 after an inning, and it looked as though it might be a blowout.
But give Cincinnati some credit…they didn’t let the game get out of control, and they finally got on the scoreboard in the top of the seventh on a RBI single by Jason Vosler. A RBI single by Jonathan India and a sacrifice fly by Spencer Steer in the eighth cut the lead to 4-3, but fortunately for Pittsburgh, the Reds couldn’t find a way to push the tying run across the plate.
After a strong road trip, this is exactly what the Pirates needed to kick off their home stand. Now, they will look for their fifth consecutive victory when they take the field on Friday evening. Mitch Keller will take the mound for Pittsburgh against Graham Ashcraft for Cincinnati.
Record vs. Reds: 2-2
Record vs. N.L. Central: 4-4
Record at Home: 4-3
Overall Record: 13-7
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
