Bucco Boots & Billy Hamilton Carry Reds To 4-3 Win In 10 Innings

Could be interesting here; Great American Ball Park is a hitter's haven and the wind is blowing out hard, and Cutch launched one into the breeze for his fourth homer, a solo shot in the first frame off Amil Garrett. Billy Hamilton led off with a knock and stole second and third (he was originally rung up on the second swipe; a challenge overturned the call). But for once, no harm came of his escapades. Pittsburgh went quietly in the second with Goose's walk all they could muster. Cincy put runners at second and third on a pair of knocks and a stolen base with two gone, but Cole Train punched out his mound opponent to end that noise. There was no action in the third. A Cutch walk in the fourth went for naught when he was caught stealing while the Redlegs went down in order.

Cutch likes GABP (photo Dave Arrigo/Pirates) 

The Bucs got a Stew walk in the fifth. A bloop that the Goose couldn't get to opened the Reds half; an out later, Garrett bunted into a DP. He hasn't helped himself a lot with the bat tonight, not that's it's particularly part of his job description. J-Hay got the Bucs second hit in the sixth; like Andrew, he got it into the jet stream (tho to right) to make it 2-0. Hamilton got aboard on Goose's boot. Of course it opened the gates; Joey Votto walked, taking a couple of pitches that could have been called Cole's way, and Adam Duvall popped a fly over the fence to give the Reds the lead. The Buc action in the seventh consisted of J-Bell getting plunked then erased stealing on a failed hit-and-run with the Goose up; he K'ed to end it. Juan Nicasio came on and worked a clean frame.

Drew Storen took the hill in the eighth and with two gone, J-Hay happened again to tie the game. Juan got the first two Reds out righty-on-righty and then Felipe Rivero took the ball and fanned Votto. Micheal Lorenzen bopped Jose Osuna with two gone in the ninth but J-Bell couldn't avenge his fellow rook. Rivero walked Adam Duvall to open, but a whiff and a 6-4-3 DP cleaned that up. The Pirates went down 1-2-3 in the 10th with Votto's grab of Gift's ball up the line to open the inning saving Lorenzen's bacon. Huddy gave up a one-out walk and then fired a wide pickoff toss, moving the runner to second. And of course, an out later Hamilton slapped a two-strike heater into right to win the game.

Josh flexed his muscles tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Make two errors to give up two runs and lose by one run as Billy Hamilton took advantage of both of the miscues. Should be a lesson in there somewhere.

Notes:

• Tonight was Josh Harrison's first multi-homer game in the show, and he put on the ritz in his hometown.
• Cutch's 17 long balls at GABP are fifth-most among visiting players and extended his on-base streak to 20 games. J-Bell's streak was stretched to 14 games after he was HBP. Josh Harrison had two hits; Andrew had a bomb and a walk.
• The Reds have the Buccos number so far: they're 4-0 against them. At least this one was close; Cincy took the opening series by a 22-5 scoring margin.
• Gregory has three RBI in 90 PAs batting cleanup and is hitting .225 from the four hole.