Coming off a win on Friday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates looked to pick up a series win in game two of a three game set with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. Cincinnati had other plans, as they exploded for ten runs on fourteen hits in a 10-1 victory. Pittsburgh didn’t help themselves, as they only collected four hits of their own and committed two errors.
Austin Dunn, and the rest of the Reds pitchers, were solid over the course of the game. Dunn worked five innings and allowed one run on three hits, while walking and striking out four batters. That lone run came in the fourth when Rodolfo Castro hit a 419 ft. solo home run to left center. Castro was the only Pirate on the night to collect multiple hits with two.
The Cincinnati offense came to life in the third. They collected their first run when Jake Fraley scored on an Oneil Cruz throwing error. In the fourth, Austin Romine hit a double to right to score two runs. Fraley would then strike with a two-run home run to right to give the Reds a five-run lead. All five of those runs came off of Pittsburgh starter Tyler Beede, though only four were earned.
A five run ninth inning for Cincinnati laid to rest any doubt that the Pirates could mount a comeback. Mike Moustakas hit an RBI single to right center to get things started. Moustakas then scored on a Nick Senzel single to left. Aristides Aquino drove in a run with a single left, that was followed up by a Jose Barrero RBI single to center. The final run of the night came on a Donovan Solano single to left center.
All five ninth inning runs were charged to Eric Stout. He collected only one out in the inning, but gave up six hits in the process. Chase De Jong, Yohan Ramirez, and Duane Underwood Jr. pitched a combined 4.2 innings out of the pen and gave up two hits with seven strikeouts and one walk.
This was an ugly night for sure and one that Pittsburgh needs to forget about in a hurry, as they will wrap up this series on Sunday afternoon at 1:35pm. Expected to start in this game is Zach Thompson for the Pirates and Mike Minor for the Reds. Neither starter has an ERA under five, so expect some offense in this one.
Record vs. Reds: 5-6
Record vs. N.L. Central: 22-30
Record at Home: 26-32
Overall Record: 47-73
And…
As Always…
Let’s Go Bucs!
