Final Score: Pirates 7 Reds 5
Why The Pirates Won: Where both teams had similar offensive lines, the Pirates were able to take advantage just a little better and they went long ball. The Pirates hit 4 solo home runs by Endy Rodriguez, Henry Davis, Jared Triolo, and Ke'Bryan Hayes. Each team had 7 walks, were 2 for 10 with runners in scoring position, while the Pirates left 9 men on base and the Reds 10. The back end of the bullpen did the job, shutting out the Reds over the last 3 innings. The Pirates got a big insurance run in the 9th when the Reds gifted them the run with 2 walks and hit batter, that enabled the Pirates to score the big run without the benefit of a hit. It was another hairy bottom of the 9th, but David Bednar was able to get through it unscathed., The Reds had 1st and 2nd with nobody out when Christian Encarnacion-Strand hit into a double play. Bednar stuck out the next batter and Pirates won their 3rd in a row. Now the Pirates just need 2 more wins to get to 75.
The Key Moment Of The Game: It was the first 2 innings where the Reds had lots of traffic on the bases but could only manage to score 1 run. In the first, the Pirates walked 2 and hit a batter to load the bases with 2 outs but they could not get the big hit. In the bottom of the 2nd a single and 2 walks could only net them 1 run. They could have had two crooked innings and wound up having none. Every time the Cubs took the lead the Pirates were able to come right back and either tie the game or go ahead, beginning with the 4th inning.
Next Game: Tonight, Reds in Cincinnati. The Pirates are taking advantage of another team that is in unfamiliar ground. The Reds are fighting for that final playoff spot, just like the Cubs, and are feeling the pressure. The Pirates are young and loose, clearly enjoying their role as spoilers. The offense has come alive scoring 13, 8, and 7 runs the last 3 games. Let's hope they can still put a hurtin on the Reds the rest of the weekend.
No comments:
Post a Comment