J-Bell, Melky, Fraze & J-Mart Lead the Charge As Bucs Broom Reds 7-5

Archie K'ed a pair in the first, although Scott Schebler's 10-pitch whiff ran the count up to 20 first-inning tosses. Fraze took Anthony DeSclafani's first offering over the right-center wall before the righty settled in to whiff two. The Reds came right back; a walk and Derek Dietrich's one-hop blast into the Allegheny, which he stood and admired before a slow trot around the sacks, put the Cincy gang ahead; DD has been smoking the ball this series. Erik Gonzalez booted a ball followed by a single, but a timely 6-4-3 DP and whiff of Anthony kept the inning from getting away too badly. The Bucs evened it up when Melky singled - where would the offense be w/o him? - and scored on Gonzo's two-out, opp field double, tho Erik was gunned out at third. Schebler homered to put Cincy back on top in the third; Pittsburgh went quietly. Archie stranded a couple in the fourth, and started a lil' brawl by throwing behind Dietrich (to be fair, behind his butt, not his noggin); Keone Kela, Felipe Vazquez (bye-bye back end), Yasiel Puig, Amir Garrett and manager David Bell were all bounced. J-Bell knotted the score with a 474' space launch to center that cleared the batter's eye. But it was a good frame; the Pirates went ahead when Melky doubled and scored on J-Mart's two-out rap before the page turned.

Pedro Borbon has to be in there someplace... (image MLB Network)

Archie left a fifth-inning single aboard; at 86 pitches, he prob has another round left. Fraze wore a pitch to lead off, and Cervy dropped a single an out later. David Hernandez took the ball and gave up a double to J-Bell, plating Fraze. Kang's pop froze the runners, so Melky picked up the slack by rolling a two-out, two-run knock up the middle. A J-Mart double left Buccos at second & third, earning Gonzo another intentional pass, and Arch K'ed to leave the sacks jammed. Ah, pitchers w/RISP - Arch has left five runners on; DeSclafani stranded three. But Chris is paid to pitch, and a 1-2-3 sixth met his job description. Starling tripled with an out off of Hernandez. Cervy popped out (the runner on third and one-out thing seems to befuddle the Bucs) and Josh was walked intentionally after getting ahead 2-0. Robert Stephenson took the ball to face JHK and went off speed to fan him. Nick Kingham claimed the mound in the seventh and it was over eight pitches later. Pittsburgh made not a peep either.

The King didn't have such a calm eighth; Dietrich homered again with two outs and a runner on to make it 7-5, and the Bucs are w/o The Nightmare or KK for the ninth after the ejections. Wandy Peralta gave up a one-out rap to Fraze. He was caught stealing and Peralta posted a zero. Ric Rod took the bump, looking at the first save opportunity of his big league career. He got the seven-eight hitters routinely, then Joey Votto grabbed a twig. He went down 4-3 and the Pirates had a sweep as they head to the Windy City for tomorrow's Chicago Home Opener.

Ric Rod claimed his first MLB save (photo Pittsburgh Pirates)

Notes:

• Melky had three hits while J-Bell, Fraze and J-Mart each added a pair. The foursome scored six times and drove in six more runs.
• Fraze has reached base safely in all seven games he's started this year. His first inning homer was only the second the Reds staff had allowed this season.
• J-Bell's 474' homer was the fourth longest bombed at PNC Park; Sammy Sosa's 484' cannonball in 2002 is the longest (Pedro Alvarez & Daryle Ward bopped 479' long flies).
• The last time the Pirates posted a four-game sweep of the Reds in Pittsburgh was August 22-24, 1969.
• What better way to start Kid's Day at the yard than with a vid tribute to Mr. Rogers?
• Nice Indy debut for RHP Eduardo Vera - six IP, no runs, three hits, one walk, six K's.