Redlegs Hit Homers, Bucs Don't - Cincy Takes Opener 4-2

Cutch legged a two-out infield knock in the first off Homer Bailey. The throw missed the target at first, Andrew headed to second and didn't make it; seems to be a lot of that tossed-out-on-the-bases going around lately. Joey Votto made sure he'd avoid a TOOTBLAN by dropping a ball into the RC field seats off Chad Kuhl. The Bucs tied it in the third - Eli doubled and eventually came home on J-Lups sac fly. The lead didn't last long; Zack Cozart's solo shot gave the Reds the edge again. Chad was one of the stingiest pitchers in giving up long balls, but welcome to GABP... Kuhl stranded a pair after the longball. It got worse; Cozart smacked another HR in the fifth, then Scott Schebler dropped a ball into the seats, this one barely reaching the first row, to make it 4-1 and bringing in Edgar Santana.

Chad had a rare case of gopher ball-itis tonight (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

The Bucs loaded the bases with two outs in the sixth after a walk and plunking book-ended a Freeser double. Michael Lorenzen took the ball and got Eli on a roller to first. The Reds returned the favor, leaving packed sacks in their half. Lorenzen and AJ Schugel exchanged quiet seventh frames. Lorenzen put a couple on in the eighth, then Raisel Iglesias came in and struck a couple out. Felipe Rivero bopped a Redleg but otherwise had no other messages to send. Iglesius walked Mad Max in a good, eight-pitch at-bat and in another pro battle, Fraze whacked his eighth pitch for a two-out triple, bringing up the tying run. But the Bucco streak ended with J-Lup, who lined out to left.

So far, the pups aren't knocking down the door for next year. The BAs of Elias Diaz (.233), Jose Osuna (.242), Jordan Luplow (.240) & Max Moroff (.190; he's K'ed six times in his last nine trips to the dish) aren't exactly screaming "play me." We'll see how those averages look a couple weeks down the line.

The Pirates have to decide on Eli for 2018 (photo via MiLB)

Notes:

• Freeser had two hits; Fraze and J-Bell had a knock and a walk as the Bucs cpllected seven hits total.
• Tonight was the first time since May 26th when Neil Walker took him deep twice at PNC Park that Chad Kuhl has allowed multiple dingers in a game and the first time he's allowed more than two long balls in a game in his career.
• RHP Drew Hutchison cleared waivers and was outrighted to Indy; in effect, he's been removed from the 40-man roster. Hutchison earned $2.3M this year and has two more years of arb. Hutch is surely going to be non-tendered during the off-season and is eligible for minor-league free agency this year at any rate. The housekeeping broom strikes...
• The KC Royals snapped Cleveland's record 22-game-long winning streak with a 4-3 victory at Progressive Field. Congrats to the Tribe; that's one great run.