Dietrich Dingers Spark Reds to 11-6 Bucco Spanking - Jordan Hurt, Mitch Optioned Back, Ric Rod Stays

Lucas Sims had a lots better opener than Mitch did last night; he tossed a 1-2-3 frame, helped when Starling singled and was thrown out trying to stretch the blooper. Jordan gave up a two-out walk on a borderline call and shrugged it off. J-Bell roped out to right and the next pair fanned; not much plate patience on exhibit. A Jose Iglesias triple and well-placed tapper got the Reds on the board. Two more Bucs whiffed in the third; their free swinging is making it easy for Sims so far. It was a clean frame for Jordan. A couple of more Bucs fanned in the fourth, while the Reds opened with a two-bagger. Derek Dietrich pounded the next ball out of the yard. He finished up the inning, though the trainers came out to check on him briefly; looks like his groin is bothering him. J-Bell opened the fifth with a double, drilling what would have been ball four into right (good choice). After a pop out, Redbeard smoked one up the middle - and into an unassisted DP. In further good news, Geoff Hartlieb took the hill in the fifth; another pitcher down.

Hey, another pitcher hurt - Photo Pittsburgh Pirates

He gave up a one-out double off a two-strike meatball that Starling misread, judging by his route. The fourth run came home on another two-bagger. After a second out, another Dietrich homer followed, then a single, double, single, single with the inning ending on a throw-out at second by Starling and an 8-0 count. The Bucs answered with a walk in the sixth and Cincy went quietly. Starling doubled in the seventh and was left on the pond. After a double, another Dietrich dinger and one-out walk got Hartlieb yanked and in came Rookie Davis, who stopped the leakage. Lucas' fun day ended in the eighth. Bryan Reynolds and Eli singled (the catcher legged out an infield knock), then with an out, Joey O got bopped. K-Man swatted his first MLB homer, and it was a granny. Robert Stephenson took the ball and stilled the bats. Jose Peraza pounded one out against Rookie. Jake singled with an out in the ninth and Bryan walked, with a wild pitch in between. Reynolds pulled up gimpy *does it ever end* and Big Joe ran for him. Eli doubled them both home before the final curtain fell.

Well...the Pirates have drained Indy. Wonder if they'll loot Altoona or Bradenton next? Steven Brault goes tomorrow to try to take home a split in the series.

Notes:

• Eli and Starling each had two hits tonight
• Jordan Lyles departed the game with "left hamstring discomfort." Bryan Reynolds said a foul off his ankle was causing him some pain, so he left as a precautionary move. He'll get a protective shield for his leg and plans to soldier on.
• Derek Dietrich has nine hits against the Pirates. Seven are homers.
• The Pirates optioned RHP Mitch Keller back to Indy and recalled RHP Richard Rodriguez, who was just sent down (on paper) after being yesterday's 26th man. Nick Kingham and Steve Brault get to hold their starting spots. As for Mitch, hard to say if that brutal first frame of Super Two time cut his stay short (or maybe some of both), but we expect he'll be back soon enough.