The Cincinnati Reds hit three solo home runs off Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jon Niese as they defeat Pittsburgh 3-2. The Pirates couldnt get anything going against starter Dan Straily collecting only four hits in his six innings of work.
On a cold rainy May night, the Cincinnati Reds were able to hit the ball out of the ball park on their way to defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates by the score of 3-2. All three of Cincinnati's runs came via the long ball, and the Pirates offense could not retaliate as they had trouble all night against Reds starter Dan Straily.
Straily kept his team in the game all night long pitching 6.0 innings giving up two runs on four hits while walking three and striking out two. Straily only allowed two hits in the first five innings of the game and, for the most part, was in complete control of this Pirates offense. The Reds have been dealing with injury problems this season as all five of their projected starters are currently on the disabled list. However, their replacement starters have been holding their own for the team this season.
Jon Niese started the game for the Pirates and pitched well, but received no run support on the night and in turn picked up his second loss of the season. In total, he went 6.2 innings giving up three runs on seven hits while walking one and striking out four batters. Niese was able to get out of jams when he needed to, but couldn't avoid the home run ball as that was his downfall on this night.
The scoring started off right away for the Reds as Zack Cozart took the third pitch of the ball game and sneaked it over the left field wall to give the Reds an early 1-0 lead over the Pirates. The next two batters reached as Billy Hamilton singled and Joey Votto was hit by a pitch to help the Reds set up shop. Fortunately for the Pirates, Brandon Phillips would hit into a big double play and Eugenio Suarez struck out to end the inning.
Then, both starters got into a groove pitching scoreless innings all the way to the sixth inning. The two starters combined to allow only three hits from the second to the fifth inning. Neither offense could get into a groove and when someone did get on base, they were quickly erased as nobody could get the clutch hit.
The Pirates offense finally got on the board in the top of the sixth inning after singles by Andrew McCutchen and Starling Marte and a walk to Gregory Polanco loaded the bases for the Pirates with nobody out. Then Francisco Cervelli tied the game at one with a sacrifice fly to center to score McCutchen. Jung Ho Kang followed that up with an RBI ground out that gave the Pirates their first lead of the day as they lead 2-1.
The Reds wasted no time getting that run back as in the bottom of the sixth, after a Hamilton line out, Joey Votto hit his fifth home run of the season to tie the game at two. Niese got the ball where he wanted on the inside corner, but Votto got his hands inside and just got the ball over the left field wall to tie the game.
Jon Niese was trying to get through seven innings of work and he almost did as he got the first two outs pretty quickly as Adam Duvall grounded out and Tyler Holt struck out. Then, Tucker Barnhart hit a deep fly ball to left that just inched its way over the left field wall to give the Reds a 3-2 lead. The home run was reviewed and stood on the field to confirm the 3-2 lead.
Ryan Vogelsong was calle upon to finish the inning and after allowing a pinch hit single by Jordan Pacheco he got Cozart to line out to end the inning. Vogelsong pitched very well out of the bullpen going 1.1 innings giving up two hits while walking one batter. Vogelsong has been a very effective pitcher for the Pirates allowing two earned runs or less in every one of his outings this year including a spot start. He pitched well tonight keeping the Pirates in the game and giving them a chance to win.
It looked like the Pirates would tie the game in the top of the ninth as Kang got the inning started off with a lead-off double. However, Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer each grounded out and David Freese flew out to center field to end the game.The loss was the Pirates third straight loss at Great American Ball Park following a series early in the year where they lost two out of three to the Reds.
The Reds and Pirates will play game two of this three game series tomorrow at 7:10 p.m. at Great American Ball Park. For the Reds, right hander Alfredo Simon (1-3 9.86). Last time out, Simon pitched seven innings giving up three runs while collecting his first win of the season. The Pirates will counter with right hander Juan Nicasio (3-3 3.16). Nicasio was plagued by bad defense his last time out as he went 4.1 innings allowing four runs, one earned, while walking three and striking out three. The Pirates will look to get back on the right track as they currently sit eight games back of the first place Cubs.
No comments:
Post a Comment