Starling Marte smacked a grand slam in the top of the eighth to cap off a Pirates comeback as they defeated the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 6-5 yesterday.
On a cold Friday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates bats could not get going. Through the first 7 innings of the game the Pirates only had six hits and could not get a run across the plate.
Things started out the same in the eighth as the first two batters were retired fairly quickly. Then after Jon Jaso was hit by a pitch, Andrew McCutchen walked, and David Freese singled the bases were loaded for Starling Marte with the Bugs trailing 5-2.
Marte was hitting .187 coming into the game but was 2 for 3 on the night. He takes the first pitch for a ball and then quickly deposits the next pitch over the left field wall for a grand slam to give the Pirates a 6-5 lead.
It was the first home run of the year for the Pirates and it couldn't have come at a better time. The offense has been finding ways to win ball games early on in the season. Whether it's via the home run or small ball they find ways to pull out the victory.
Francisco Liriano struggled on the night throwing 5.0 innings giving up three runs on five hits while walking four and striking out three. Liriano has never done well against the Reds throughout his career.
Coming into the night he was 1-5 career against the Reds. The cold night air didn't help either As rain and snow fell all night long. He wasn't getting any swings and misses on the night like he had been on opening day against the Cardinals.
The Reds struck quickly against Liriano as Brandon Phillips hit a first inning two-run home run to give the Cardinals a 2-0 lead. Phillips had a great offensive day going 2 for 2 with two RBI and a walk on the day. He was involved in four out of the five Reds runs on the night.
The Pirates responded in the top of the second when Francisco Liriano hit an RBI double that drove in Jordy Mercer to pull the Pirates within one making the score 2-1. Liriano is currently hitting .750 on the season, 3 out of 4, with two RBI. His early success at the plate comes as a little bit of surprise as last season he was one of the worst hitting pitchers on the team with a .169 average.
The Reds got another run back in the bottom of the third when Phillips hit a sacrifice fly that scored Zack Cozart and gave the Reds a 3-1 lead. Liriano got into a couple jams on the night but was able to weasel his way out only allowing three runs on the night.
The Pirates had a big opportunity in the top of the fifth as they loaded the bases with only one out. Francisco Cervelli stepped up with one out. He hit into a force play that scored McCutchen and trimmed the lead to 3-2. The Pirates didn't score another run and The deficit stayed 3-2.
Ryan Vogelsong made his Pirates debut next pitching 2.0 innings giving up two runs, one earned, on one hit while walking two batters. Vogelsong struggled early on but settled down and did well out of the bullpen.
The Reds added runs in both the sixth and seventh innings on an RBI single by Billy Hamilton and a wild pitch that scored Phillips giving the Reds a 5-2 lead.
The Pirates loaded the bases in the seventh inning without getting a hit. Jon Jaso was hit by a pitch, Andrew McCutchen walked, and David Freese reached on a fielding error. Then Marte stepped up and hit the first Pirates home run of the year, a grand slam, that gave the Pirates a 6-5 lead.
Then Neftali Feliz and Mark Melancon came in to finish the game. Each throwing a perfect inning of work. Feliz struck out two in The eighth inning to hold the Reds at bay. Then Andrew McCutchen made a spectacular catch in the ninth robbing Eugenia Suarez of a hit.
Melancon collected his second save of the young season in the Pirates 6-5 victory. The win puts the Pirates at 4-0 on the season and they have scored four or more runs in each contest.
The Pirates are back in action today against the Reds. On the mound for the Reds is Rasiel Iglesias (0-0 3.00). Last time out he faced the Philadelphia Phillies and three 6.0 innings giving up two runs on six hits while striking out seven. The Pirates will counter with Gerrit Cole who will make his season debut for the Bucs. First pitch at Great American Ball Park is scheduled for 1:10 p.m.
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