Bucs Do A Little Batting & A Little Battlin' In 11-4 Win Over Reds

With one gone in the first against Tanner Roark, Bryan Reynolds doubled, Starling legged out an infield tapper, and they both scooted home on J-Bell's two-bag gapper to right center. The Reds tried to answer off Joe Musgrove. A pair of one-out raps and a miscue by Corey D in left put Redlegs at second and third, but a swinging K and a bouncer left them aboard. Pittsburgh went 1-2-3 in the second. Cincy opened with a double, but Big Joe wriggled out of danger again. With an out in the third, Reynolds singled while Starling and J-Bell walked to jam the sacks. Redbeard K'ed, but Corey and K-Man picked him up with back-to-back raps, plating three Pirates. Cincinnati finally cashed in on a Joey Votto homer, making it 5-1. Fraze and Reynolds were issued consecutive passes with an out in the fourth; Lucas Sims took over and coaxed Starling into a DP bouncer. The Reds keep on chipping; Jose Iglesias went long in the Reds half with two away. Redbeard walked with one down in the fifth, and Corey smacked a long fly to get the run back and some. K-Man singled and stole second but remained on the pond. It was a quiet frame for Big Joe.

Big Joe was tough enough tonight - photo Pittsburgh Pirates

Sims struck out the side in the sixth; Musgrove came close, fanning the first pair before a grounder broke up the string. Robert Stephenson got the seventh, and Corey stayed hot, swatting another dinger with two down. Keone Kela came in and picked up a pair of K, buzzing Derek Dietrich for good measure, with a little barking between the two. KK and Votto continued the convo between innings, then Kela chatted with manager David Bell, leading the ump to warn both benches. Melky doubled with an out in the eighth and went to third on a wild pitch, where he stayed. Kyle Crick came on. An error by K-Man, single, and walk crammed the bases with an out, but Crick escaped with just a run while Bell was ejected over a beef on a strike call. Amir Garrett worked the ninth after Jared Hughes got one batter, Starling, and plunked him, earning the hot water. Redbeard singled and Joey O went yard. Garrett charged the entire Pirates bench an out later following some mutual barking,  starting another fine mess. Garrett and Puig joined Archie and Crick in the sin bin. The inning ended with no further frolics, and Geoff Hartlieb took the hill. He gave up a run on a walk and two singles while striking out the side. Raise the Roger.

Did I show ya the pictures from Kennywood...? - image Fox Ohio

Well, it was entertaining. All the Bucco trade bangles shined brightly, and finally the hitting was matched by decent pitching. It's nice to get that nine-game spiral outta the way. And yah, David Bell could use some anger management training, but we still remember the Pedro Borbon days... At least there aren't any probs with over-fraternization between these two clubs. Oh, and happy birthday, Clint. The boys gift-wrapped a nice win for you tonight.

Notes:

• Corey D had three hits, K-Man and Bryan Reynolds had a pair each. Dickerson's five RBI are a career single-game high. Corey likes GABP; he has nine homers in 14 games here. And joey O pounded his fifth pinch-hit homer.
• Word circulated late in the game that Trevor Bauer was traded to Reds, with Yasiel Puig as part of the package in a three-teamer with San Diego, although Puig stayed in the game and even brawled some. Might as well enjoy the last night...
• David Bell, who was ejected before the to-do, came back on the field and shoved Clint, with some choice yaps aimed at the skipper. That should get him a couple of games off...
• Robert Murray of The Athletic said that Milwaukee, among other clubs, have kicked Keone Kela's tires.
• The Pirates suspended pen coach Euclides Rojas for two games due to a violation of his contract, beginning tonight, with no further comment. *sheesh* What's in that bullpen water cooler?
• Gift Ngoepe was released from Altoona; we'd like to see the Bucs get him into a coaching role.