The Pittsburgh Pirates had their six game winning streak snapped by the Cincinnati Reds this afternoon losing 6-5. Jeff Locke turned in a strong 7.0 inning start but the bullpen couldn't hold strong in the loss.
The Pittsburgh Pirates saw their six game winning streak come to an end this afternoon as they lost to the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 6-5. The game started out as a pitchers duel, but by the end of the game turned into an offensive juggernaut as each team took turns scoring on the afternoon.
Pittsburgh Pirates starter Jeff Locke turned in his second consecutive quality start as he went 7.0 innings giving up three runs on four hits while walking two and striking out six. Locke again showed the good control he had in his start in Colorado and it helped him on the mound once again.
Cincinnati Reds starter Tim Adleman pitched just as well in his major league debut. He ended up throwing 6.0 innings giving up three hits while walking two and striking out six. Adleman kept the potent Pirates offense at bay all afternoon. The only Pirate who could hit off of him was Gregory Polanco who went 2 for 2 against the Reds starter.
Both starters threw up zeroes through the first four innings of work before the Pirates were finally able to break through in the bottom of the fifth. Polanco got the first hit of the game for the Pirates as he sent his third home run of the season over the right field wall to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead.
Polanco's home run was the first home run ball to hit the river since Pedro Alvarez did it in July of last season. The Pirates have been on a home run tear recently after not hitting a home run until their first game of the season. The recent power success has helped the Pirates offense get the extra boost that it needs.
The Reds responded the very next half inning as a Tucker Barnhart double and a Zack Cozart walk set the Reds up with first and second with two outs. Then Joey Votto hit an RBI single to right field to tie the game at one. The Reds added another run in the inning as after an intentional walk to Brandon Phillips, Jay Bruce hit a double to right field to score both Billy Hamilton and Votto to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.
The Pirates would respond in the bottom of the seventh as After a Starling Marte single and a Polanco strikeout, Sean Rodriguez tripled into the left field corner to make the score 3-2 Reds. Then Matt Joyce delivered a pinch hit single just over the second baseman's head scoring Rodriguez and tying the game at three.
This is where the back and forth started as both teams scored in the eighth to make it 4-4 going into the ninth inning. Then the Reds scored in the top of the ninth on a Scott Schelber RBI double that scored Adam Duvall and gave the Reds a late 5-4 lead.
It looked like the game was over for the Pirates in the bottom of the ninth as Chris Stewart and Jason Rogers each got out to start the inning. Then John Jaso hit his second home run of the season to tie the game at five as they went into extra innings.
Ryan Vogelsong came into pitch the tenth for the Pirates and made the Red go 1-2-3 in the tenth, but he ran into trouble in the eleventh. He let up a leadoff triple to Eugenio Suarez and set the Reds up with a runner at third and no outs. Then Schelber burned the Pirates again as he hit a one-out RBI double to right field to put the Reds up 6-5. The Pirates were unable to score in the bottom of the inning as they lost the game.
The Pirates commuted four errors in the loss and that ended up hurting them in the end. While he had a good day at the plate, Polanco committed two costly errors in the field that cost the Pirates in the end.
The Pirates start a big three game series against the Chicago Cubs tomorrow night at PNC Park. Right hander Jason Hammel (3-0 0.75) will be on the mound for the Cubs and the Pirates will oppose with right hander Gerrit Cole (2-2 2.78). First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m.
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