Brault Beauty, Bell & 'Beard Bombs Boost Bucs to Series Split, 7-2.

The game start was delayed to 2:30, then 2:45; this season has been a cluster in several ways, weather high up on the list. It did get going roughly about then, and Bryan Reynolds became the first runner, drawing a one-out walk off Anthony DeSclafani. Starling threw away another walk by fishing for sliders and ended up popping out, then a grounder ended it. Steven Brault filled up the strike zone and was rewarded with a clean, nine-pitch frame. Eli singled with two gone in the second and K-Man hustled out an infield knock to turn the order over. The Reds went down quietly. There was no Bucco bangin' in the third. It was nine-up, nine-down, for Cincy. Melky singled with an out in the fourth; Redbeard banged into a 3-6-3 DP. A leadoff single was advanced to second with two gone; Yasiel Puig was walked intentionally to get to Derek Dietrich; Steven fanned him for the second time. K-Man stroked a one-out rap, was bunted up and died at second in the fifth.

Steven had it going on today - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

The Reds used a pair of singles and bunt to mount their first threat against Steven, with ducks on second and third and two gone. No prob; Nick Senzel tried to get cute with a sneak attack bunt; it ended the frame, thank you for not swinging. Bryan started the sixth with a knock, and an out later, J-Bell's rap put Bucs on the corners. Melky hit a shallow fly to freeze them, but Redbeard picked him up, launching a changeup into the opp field LC seats. Eli singled and Michael Lorenzen was waved in to finish up. A leadoff walk was followed by an out and a new pitcher, Ric Rod, after Steven hit the 74-pitch mark.  RR did his job, fanning Puig. Then Frankie got the summons to face Dietrich, and Cole entered to play SS while K-Man, 2-for-3, was double-switched out. A bloop put Reds on first and third, but Frankie had it under control, getting an 0-2 fly to tuck it in. Tuck opened the seventh with a two-bagger and was bunted up (Fraze gave it a run; the play went to review at first). Bryan Reynolds made the effort count with a rap to make it 4-0. Then Starling singled and J-Bell lifted one deep the opp way to start piling it on. Frankie retired a lefty and Clay Holmes took over, giving up a single between garden variety outs.

Matt Bowman worked the eighth, giving up a Tuck single with two outs. Clay bopped Eugenio Suarez in the hand, who then trotted halfway to the mound, had a few words, and then zig-zagged to first as manager David Bell came out to froth a little before being ejected. A whiff was followed by a walk, and a single plated a run. Holmes and the strike zone continued their barely nodding acquaintance, but he got out with no more damage. Raisel Iglesias got the ninth. He buzzed Bryan but won with a whiff before Starling singled. Josh dropped a flare to left and a passed ball moved them up, but the Bucs couldn't cash in after a K and at 'em ball. Nick Senzel sent one into the bleachers off Holmes with two outs before a comebacker finished it. Raise the Roger.

Colin's blast gave the Bucs a lead they never relinquished - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Well, Steven is good against the Reds and usually good when he throws strikes; he did both today to give the Bucs a boost. A couple of three-run jacks are pretty handy, too. Nice bounceback and now back to the 'Burg and the big bad Brew Crew,

Notes:

• J-Bell, Starling and Bryan had seven hits at the top of the lineup while Eli and K-Man had four knocks at the bottom. That'll usually play.
• GABP's bandbox played well for the Pirates today; Colin's dinger went 356' and out in left center and Josh's dropped gently into the first row in left; both were oppo field shots.
• Steven Brault has never lost to the Reds (4-0/1.01) and has a 19-2/3 IP scoreless streak v Cincy.
• All we got on Jordan Lyle's sore leg from the club is that he's playing catch today, FWIW, and isn't on the IL, so that's all good. 
• JHK is expected to get some time at SS during his Indy rehab.
• By the way, a couple of old Bucs are rehabbing for the Tigers - Jordy is playing in AAA to prep after a long stint with a quad injury, and J-Hay is on his second IL posting, this time with a partially torn hammy that could keep him out 4-6 weeks (the first was a shoulder injury).