KSReds: Cincinnati Reds Win Series in Pittsburgh

The Cincinnati Reds were just three outs from making this a sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates. However, Joel Kuhnel and Ross Detwiler failed to close things down in the ninth inning on Friday night, allowing the Pirates to win in walk-off fashion.

Over the weekend, the Reds’ offense picked up scoring a total of 19 runs on 27 hits. Jake Fraley was the primary hero with a couple of home runs, five RBI, and six runs scored in the wins on Saturday and Sunday. Cincinnati is now 48-71 on the season.

The Reds will continue their 10-game, 10-day road trip on Monday with a short trip from Pittsburgh to Philadelphia to take on the Phillies. Luis Cessa is scheduled to make the start for the Reds in what will amount to a bullpen game on Monday night with a 7:10 p.m. EST first pitch. He is opposite Noah Syndergaard for the Phillies. Nick Lodolo, Graham Ashcraft, and Justin Dunn will also make starts during the four-game series.

Pirates Take Series Opener in Walk-Off Fashion

The Cincinnati Reds’ 10-game, 10-day road trip appeared to be off to a good start. Nick Senzel blasted a two-run home run in the second inning to take an early 2-0 lead on Friday. T.J Friedl added a solo shot in the fifth inning to make it 3-0. The Pirates finally got on the board in the sixth and seventh innings to tie the game, but Kyle Farmer answered in the top of the eighth with a go-ahead single scoring Jake Fraley to put the Reds back on top 4-3. Reiver Sanmartin pitched a clean eighth inning to bring Cincinnati three outs away from winning the series opener. However, the wheels fell off in the bottom of the ninth inning.

Joel Kuhnel was tasked with the closing role in this one by David Bell and things did not go as planned. Pittsburgh got the leadoff man on board with a single into right centerfield. Then, the runner was sacrificed to second base. Kevin Newman doubled to tie the game and end Kuhnel’s night early. Ross Detwiler entered for the Reds to try and keep the score tied and force extra innings, but that didn’t work out either. The bases were loaded for the Pirates after an intentional walk and a hit batter. Michael Chavis then delivered with a walk-off single to left field to secure the 5-4 victory.

On the mound for the Reds, Graham Ashcraft turned in a great start going six and two-third innings, allowing three runs while striking out eight. It was an incredibly efficient outing for the rookie as he needed just 85 pitches to record his 20 outs. However, the bullpen let the win slip away in the bottom of the ninth.

Reds Bounce Back With Blowout Win

The bats were hot on Saturday night to help the Cincinnati Reds even the series at one game a piece. Big innings in the fourth and ninth scored nine of their 10 runs on the way to a blowout 10-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates. After Jake Fraley scored via an error in the third, the left-handed hitter blasted a 437-foot two-run home run in the top of the fourth to make it a 5-0 game. Then, in the ninth, the Reds strung together five consecutive run-scoring singles to really open the game up on the scoreboard. Mike Moustakas, Donovan Solano, Nick Senzel, Aristides Aquino, and Jose Barrero each contributed to the hit parade.

Justin Dunn earned the victory for the Reds after tossing five innings of three-hit, one-run baseball. Ian Gibaut, Buck Farmer, Hunter Strickland, and Art Warren pitched one inning a piece in relief, allowing no runs on just one hit. It was an all-around great performance by the pitching staff to secure the 10-1 victory over the Pirates and set up Sunday afternoon’s rubber match.

Jake Fraley Leads Reds to Series Win

Jack Fraley stayed hot on Sunday afternoon to lead the Cincinnati Reds to victory once again. He finished the day 2-2 at the plate, scoring four runs while driving in three. He also drew three walks to reach base in all five plate appearances. His day started off with a leadoff home run to put the Reds on top right away. Then, Fraley drove in a pair of runs in the sixth inning with a single to right field that made it 5-2. Jonathan India and Donovan Solano followed up Fraley’s hit with a triple and single respectively that each scored runs to give the Reds a 7-2 advantage. Pittsburgh threatened in the bottom half of the inning, recovering three runs to make it 7-5, but that was as close as the comeback attempt would get.

Solano and Nick Senzel drove in insurance runs in the top of the eighth for Cincinnati to set the eventual final score of 9-5. Veteran left-hander Mike Minor earned the victory on the mound for the Reds. Minor went five and two-third innings while allowing five runs on nine hits. However, the run support was enough to log just his second win on the season. He still has a brutal 6.44 earned run average.