The Pirates went into Cincinnati with a four game lead over the Reds for the first wild card spot in the National League. Today, they leave the Queen City with a three game lead as they were able to avoid a sweep after losing the first two.
Friday
Francisco Liriano took the hill to open the second half and had a rare lapse in control as the wheels fell off for him and reliever Justin Wilson in the fifth leading to four Reds runs in their series-opening victory. The Pirates got three solo homers in the sixth by Andrew McCutchen, Russell Martin and Starling Marte. They were also 0-for with runners in scoring position as they put guys on in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings.
Final Score: Reds 5, Pirates 3.
Saturday
A.J. Burnett couldn’t get into a rhythm in the second game of the series as a rain delay after the top of the first threw his game off. He would allow four runs to start the game off (three unearned) thanks, in part, to a Jordy Mercer fielding error. The Pirates would chip away though, as Garrett Jones led the next inning off with a solo shot. Clint Barmes would also score in the inning thanks to a Zach Cozart throwing error. Andrew McCutchen would hit his second solo homer in as many games and Travis Snider would hit a pinch-hit double to cut the lead to one.
Burnett would allow the winning run to score in the sixth when he walked Joey Votto with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth. The Pirates would have their chances late in the game. They loaded the bases with two out in the seventh and had first and third in the ninth with no out and were unable to get the run in.
Final Score: Reds 5, Pirates 4
Sunday
Jeff Locke continued his dominant streak as he allowed one hit (a leadoff infield single to Shin-Soo Choo) in six innings while allowing a run. Garrett Jones hit his second homer of the series in the second to give the Bucs their first lead since before the all-star break. The Reds would tie it in the fifth when a Locke 1 – 2 curveball went wide of catcher, Michael McKenry allowing Zach Cozart to score.
The Pirates would give their fetal blow in the seventh when Jordy Mercer singled McKenry in from second. It would break a 0-for-29 streak with runners in scoring position. Jose Tabata would then score Mercer with a pinch-hit RBI single to make it 3 – 1.
Mark Melancon would make things interesting in the eighth when he loaded the bases with no out. He would then induce a double play which allowed a run to score before getting a fly out to short right to end the threat. Jason Grilli would then record his 30th save in 31 chances to close the door and salvage a win,
Final Score: Pirates 3, Reds 2
The Pirates will now head to Washington D.C. for a four game set against the Nationals.
Follow Travis for Pirates news and in-game updates on Twitter @TBerardi_OVA or @ovathletics
(Photo Credit: Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
