The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds began a three-game series at PNC Park on Friday night. These two teams have not met since April and have gone in two different directions since then. Both teams have called up young players, but Cincinnati is amid a division race, while Pittsburgh is trying to see what they have for 2024.
The Reds scored the first six runs of the game over the first four innings. Elly De La Cruz drove in a pair with a triple to right in the first inning. He then scored on a Spencer Steer double. Luke Maile smacked a three-run home run in the fourth to give them a six-run lead.
The Pirates first run of the night came in the sixth on a solo homer from Ke’Bryan Hayes. An Andrew McCutchen RBI single later would get them their final run of the night. Cincinnati plated three more runs in the eighth to cap off a 9-2 win. TJ Friedl, De La Cruz, and Steer would each collect RBI on singles in the inning.
Johan Oviedo was torched tonight during five innings. He allowed six runs on five this with four strikeouts and two walks. Jose Hernandez pitched 1.2 innings, striking out four and walking one while giving up one hit. Colin Shelby was hit hard as well during an inning on the mound. He would give up three runs on five hits with one strikeout. The remaining 1.1 innings was worked by Angel Perdomo. Perdomo struck out two batters.
Reds starter Andrew Abbot was on the bump for 5.2 innings. Abbot would strikeout nine, while allowing two runs on four hits. Derek Law gave up one hit during 1.1 innings. The final two innings were covered by Brett Kennedy who gave up one hit and struck out one batter.
You never want to lose to a division rival, but ugly losses hurt a little but more when they are in front of the home crowd. The middle game of this three-game set is scheduled to take place on Saturday at 7:05pm. It has yet to be determined who will start for Pittsburgh, but Cincinnati will go with Brandon Williamson.
Record vs. Reds: 5-3
Record vs. N.L. Central: 13-18
Record at Home: 28-31
Overall Record: 52-64
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
