Pirate Launch Three Long Balls In 6-2 Victory

Ivan tossed a goose egg in the first, walking Joey Votto for the only blot. The Bucs opened with a single/double combo from J-Hay and Austin Meadows, and took the lead on a soft roller by Starling. a walk followed, but Luis Castillo kept it at one run with a whiff and a bouncer. Eugenio Suarez won a 12-pitch at-bat to start the second with a home run into the bullpen off a fat sinker to knot the score. The Reds added a shift-busting bunt single, but Jesse Winker stayed put even after a wild pitch thanks to a pair of K by Ivan. Jordy walked with an out and was bunted to second where he remained. The third was clean for Nova. After two were gone, Castillo fed Red Beard a 3-1 heater down the middle; he swatted it into the greenery to regain the lead. Scooter Gennett started the fourth with a blooper and a two-out wild pitch led to an intentional walk that backfired when a flip from J-Bell to Nova was dropped. Pirates fielding has been just abysmal recently but didn't bite them this time as Billy Hamilton bounced out. Eli scored the easy way, driving a first pitch fastball out of the yard in left. The rest of the frame was calm.

It wasn't pretty, but it was two-in-a-row for Ivan (image Pittsburgh Pirates)

Scott Schebler led off the fifth with a double. He's the third leadoff man in five innings to reach off Ivan, but the Reds couldn't chase him home. AM singled to start things off; he's also the third lead off guy to get aboard off Castillo. A roller moved him along, but he died at second. Ivan started the sixth, we'd hope on a short leash (his ERA is 12.86 this inning). He gave up a one-out knock, held to a single sack by a nice play off the wall and throw by AM, then gave up a two-out walk. A fly to Corey D left them on the pond as Nova took a rare successful voyage through the third time through the order. Austin Brice scaled the hill and gave up a two-bagger to J-Bell. A grounder moved him up and Jordy was issued an intentional free pass. Freeser ruined the strategy with a bouncer through the oppo side to plate Josh with Jordy going to third. It was a base too far; he was caught at home trying to score on a short passed ball. J-Hay took away the sting when he drilled a 2-2 heater upstairs into the left center stands. Steven Brault came on - Ivan gave up five hits, three walks (one intentional) and three K after 92 pitches - for the seventh and twirled a 1-2-3 frame, aptly using just seven pitches.

Dylan Floro was called on and gave up a two-out two-bagger to Corey D,who watched J-Bell ground out. The Reds drew a 3-2 walk with an out in the eighth on a way generous call (Ump Mike Muchlinski has been pretty good behind the dish; just missed one there). No diff; Steven cruised along. Pittsburgh made nary a peep in their half.  Michael Feliz was waved in for the ninth; the first batter homered off his fifth straight fastball; it was Brandon Dixon's first MLB long ball. He and Eli decided to mix in the slider after that to rack up a couple of K's. A two-out bouncer up the middle kept the Reds alive briefly before Feliz pulled the plug. RTJR!

Red Beard's homer gave the Bucs a lead they never lost (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Ivan's line looked good, but both he and Castillo got a lot of hard outs; Nova is working the top of the zone and might want to change eye-level a little more. As for Feliz, like Felipe Vazquez, he has to get over the heater and mix it up. Even relievers are hard-pressed to be effective with one pitch unless you're Mariano Rivero, and they ain't. Still, beating up a weak sister is a start, and with the Brewers/D-Backs coming in for seven games on Monday, it'd be nice to roll into those series with a can-do mindset.

Notes:

• J-Hay, AM and Corey D each had a pair of knocks; Harrison, Elias Diaz and Colin Moran homered.
• Pittsburgh broke a string of eight straight series losses with today's win.
• Three games, three errors for Pirates pitchers. Their 10 boots lead the NL.
• The Reds put up another 0-fer with RISP, going 0-for-7 and stranding 10 runners.
• Nice turnout today of 27,479 paid ticketholders. 
• Ric Rod was without pain and looked good during his 20-pitch sim game before the contest; seems like some rest is doing the trick. He can come off the DL on Monday.
• RHP Drew Hutchison is back - the Dodgers signed him to a minor league deal today.