After grabbing an exciting win in game one of their split doubleheader with the Cincinnati Reds, the Pittsburgh Pirates were looking to make it a sweep on the day in game two. It was a back-and-forth affair, with Pittsburgh leading often and Cincinnati finding ways to tie it up. They would do that enough to send it to extra innings, where the Reds would get the go ahead run to earn a 6-5 victory.
The Pirates grabbed the lead in the first inning when Bryan Reynolds hit a 446 ft. home run to right center. Andrew McCutchen came home on a Henry Davis sac fly to give them a two-run lead. Cincinnati tied it in the second when Luke Maile drove in a pair with a double to right center. Liover Peguero quickly gave the home team back the lead when he hit a 407 ft. solo homer to left center in the bottom of the inning.
That lead was once again short lived as Elly De La Cruz tied the game with a solo homer of his own in the third. Peguero once again gave Pittsburgh a one run lead when he hit an RBI single to right center in the fourth. That lead jumped to two runs in the seventh when Reynolds hit another solo home run, this one traveling 410 ft., in the seventh.
An RBI single by Henry Ramos and an RBI double from Stuart Fairchild tied the game at five in the eighth inning. This would send the game to extras, where Tyler Stephenson would score the winning run on a fielder’s choice by Fairchild.
Plenty of pitching was used in this game by both teams. Andre Jackson started for the Pirates, though he would only last 3.2 innings. He would allow three runs on five hits with five strikeouts and two walks. Six pitchers came out of the bullpen to cover the remainder of the game. In total they would allow three runs on seven hits with five strikeouts and two walks.
Reds starter Luke Weaver would also work 3.2 innings. His stat line was four runs on six hits with seven strikeouts and one walk. The six pitchers used out of the Cincinnati bullpen would allow one run on three hits with five strikeouts and four walks.
Manager Derek Shelton, along with two other coaches, were ejected for arguing with the home plate umpire. After getting shelled on Friday, it was nice to see Pittsburgh compete in both games of this doubleheader. They will now hit the road for a three-game series against the New York Mets beginning Monday night at 7:10pm
Record vs. Reds: 6-4
Record vs. N.L. Central: 14-19
Record at Home: 29-32
Overall Record: 53-65
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
