Bucs Get the Scooter Gennett Treatment in 7-2 Thumping

After an hour rain delay, the Bucs were cooking, loading the bases on a Gregory single and a pair of walks with one out. The kitchen closed as Corey D and Colin Moran couldn't deliver and Matt Harvey dodged an early bullet. With two outs and a runner on first, Scooter Gennett shot a ball to right; Gregory somehow played the third out, a routine fly, into a double and it was 1-0 Reds. Then Edward Suarez doubled, and Jamo was down a pair. Pittsburgh went down in order in the second; the Redlegs got a Billy Hamilton knock. In the third, Cervy beat out a bleeder for the Pirates damage while Cincy went quietly. The Bucs got on the board in the fourth when Red Beard somehow drilled a chin-high fastball over the wall. Cincy tried to respond when Suarez cracked another two-bagger to lead off, but Taillon stranded him. The Pirates went down without a peep in the fifth, but not the Reds.

Jamo had another rough night (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

A single, double and intentional walk to Joey Votto brought up Gennett with the bases loaded; he was all over a first pitch change and drilled it into the seats. Both sides went down 1-2-3 in the sixth to pretty much put the game on ice. Amir Garrett came on in the sixth. With one gone, Austin Meadows homered, then Jordy and S-Rod walked. David Hernandez took over and gave up a single to J-Hay to fill the sacks. This time Gregory and Cervy failed to come through, leaving the bases juiced a second time. George Kontos came in and gave up another run - he's been scored on in five of his last six outings - on a HBP, steal, single and sac fly. Wandy Peralta worked the eighth, allowing a lone walk. Tyler Glasnow climbed the hill and whiffed two Reds in a clean inning. Jared Hughes finished up with a single,ground ball DP and fly to send the Pirates to their fourth straight defeat.

Well, of course it had to be Scooter Gennett to haunt the Pirates (he had six RBI); it's his MO. We have to wonder if AT&T SportsNet analyst John Wehner is right about Jamo tipping his pitches; it is kinda suspicious that a hitter would be sitting on a first-pitch changeup. The loss does follow a recent pattern - fielding blunders keep innings going for the bad guys and Bucco runners die on base instead of being chased home to break open innings. It's a bad time to slip into bad habits; the Pirates were set up to meet the Cards and Cubs on a roll, but now...

Notes:

• The Pirates only had six hits; Cervy was the only Bucco to reach twice via a knock and a walk.
• Jameson Taillon hasn't won a game since April 8th, with an 0-4 mark in eight starts since. Jamo is also winless in his last seven road starts dating back to August, 2017.
• How much do strikeouts matter? Not much, judging by tonight. Pirates hurlers fanned 12 while Cincy pitchers whiffed six. Ditto with walks, as the Buccos walked just one Red (he scored) and the Redlegs gave out five free passes to the Corsairs (none scored).