The Pittsburgh Pirates end the month of April on a hot streak winning their sixth straight game as they defeated the Cincinnati Reds last night by a score of 5-1. Francisco Liriano threw 6.2 strong innings and John Jaso hit his first Pirates home run in the victory.
The Pittsburgh Pirates continued their recent tear last night as they won their sixth straight game defeating the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 5-1. The two teams were forced to play between the rain drops, as showers rained down on Pittsburgh for most of the game, but that did not stop Francisco Liriano and this potent Pirates offense.
Liriano turned in his longest outing of the season going 6.2 innings giving up one run on five hits while striking out six batters. This was a bounce back start for Liriano as he has struggled his last few times out. Today, he returned to his normal form and was getting a lot of swings and misses on the night leading to his success.
Last time Liriano pitched was in the crazy 12-10 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks. In that game, Liriano had some control issues and could not keep the ball in the ball park as he walked three Diamondbacks and allowed two home runs in the contest. Yesterday, he was very efficient and kept the ball in the ball park. The key was, that his slider was effective last night, and when Liriano's slider is on he is one of the toughest pitchers to face in all of major league baseball.
The Pirates struck first in the contest and got the game going with a bang. The first pitch by Reds starter Alfredo Simon was sent over the wall for a solo shot by John Jaso to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Jaso has been an on base machine for the Pirates this season and has done a very good job at working the count. However, tonight he saw a first pitch that he could handle and put it over the wall for his first Buccos home run.
Reds starter Alfredo Simon had a rough time against this Pirates offense. While he kept the Pirates scoreless after the Jaso home run and through the fourth inning, he struggled giving up four walks and three hits through those innings. Simon baffled the Pirates in his first outing against them in Cincinnati and today the tables turned on the right hander.
The Reds scored their only run of the game in the top of inning number five. Liriano got the first two outs of the inning fairly quickly before allowing a single to Billy Hamilton with two outs. Zack Cozart made Liriano pay for the hit by lining a double into left field to score Hamilton and tie the game at one
The Pirates responded by adding two more in the fifth inning delivering the final blow to Simon's night. After a David Freese single and a Starling Marte hit by pitch, the Pirates had runners at first and second with nobody out. Then, Francisco Cervelli stepped up and delivered an RBI single into center field to score Freese and give the Pirates a 2-1 lead. The Pirates would add one more run in the inning as a ground out by Gregory Polanco moved runners to second and third and a sacrifice fly by Josh Harrison gave the Pirates a 3-1 lead.
The bullpen was very effective on the night and, because of the good start by Liriano, didnt have to do a lot of work. Neftali Feliz came in to relieve Liriano in the seventh inning and got the only man he faced out. Then Tony Watson pitched a scoreless eighth while walking a batter and striking out two men.
The Pirates got some much needed insurance runs in the bottom of the eighth inning. Matt Joyce started the inning off with a pinch-hit single setting the Pirates up with the leadoff man on base. Then Sean Rodriguez hit his fourth Pirates home run of the year, a two-run shot over the left field wall, to give the Pirates a commanding 5-1 lead. Rodriguez now leads the Pirates in home runs and has tied his home run total from a year ago.
AJ Schugel came in to start the ninth And after a ground out, a walk a force out, and a single the Reds had runners on first and second with two outs bringing the tying run to the plate and creating a save situation. With that in mind, manager Clint Hurdle called on his closer Mark Melancon to get the final out of the game. He did so effectively as he got Zack Cozart to strike out to end the ball game and collect his seventh save of the season.
With the win the Pirates have now won six straight games to end the month of April and sit at 15-9 on the young season, and currently sit in second place behind the 17-5 Chicago Cubs in the National League Central. After being swept in Cincinnati last time they faced the Reds, the Pirates have a chance to sweep the Reds in the final game of this three game series this afternoon at PNC Park.
The third game of this three game series will be played this afternoon at PNC Park. For the Reds right hander Tim Adleman will be making his major league debut as he steps in for the injured Rasiel Iglesias. The Pirates will counter with Jeff Locke (1-2 5.03) who is coming off his best start of the season going 6.0 shut out innings against the Colorado Rockies. First pitch for this afternoons game is scheduled for 1:35 p.m.
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