This game was a pitching duel while starters Nick Lodolo and Mitch Keller were on the mound for the first six innings. But the Reds broke through late against the Pittsburgh bullpen and rallied to score five runs in the final two innings as Cincinnati put away the Pirates 7-1 to open up the 3-game series.
Final
R
H
E
Cincinnati Reds (25-24)
7
12
0
Pittsburgh Pirates (15-33)
1
5
1
W: Lodolo (4-4) L: Keller (1-6)
Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread
The Reds started the game with back-to-back ground outs, but then Elly De La Cruz drew a 2-out walk. That brought Austin Hays to the plate and he lined a double into the left field corner and De La Cruz raced around the bases to score from first and put Cincinnati on top 1-0. It wasn’t long until the game was tied up as the Pirates also put together a 2-out rally in their half of the 1st when Bryan Reynolds picked up a single and then scored on a double off of the wall in center by Joey Bart.
Things slowed down from there as Nick Lodolo and Mitch Keller kept trading zeroes and picking up strikeouts. Lodolo got some help from his defense in the bottom of the 5th, though, as both Santiago Espinal and Spencer Steer made outstanding plays on hard-hit grounders to record outs.
Cincinnati got a taste of their own medicine in the top of the 6th when Santiago Espinal got robbed of a hit by Ke’Bryan Hayes at third base. But the Reds also got some help from the Pirates defense later in the frame when Austin Hays picked up an infield single that also saw the throw to first land in the dugout, advancing him to second. That was key as Gavin Lux hit a bloop double into left field that allowed Hays to come in and score the go-ahead run.
Nick Lodolo got the Pirates to go down in order in their half of the inning. That would complete his day after 89 pitches and seven strikeouts. Lyon Richardson took over for the Reds in the 7th and he worked around an infield hit thanks to an inning-ending double play for keep the road team on top 2-1.
Cincinnati’s offense got some work done in the top of the 8th inning. TJ Friedl led off with an infield hit. He then came around to score when Elly De La Cruz doubled to the wall in left field. Austin Hays then came through with an RBI single as the Reds extended the lead to 4-1.
After a perfect inning by Scott Barlow, the Reds would tack on runs in the top of the 9th. Will Benson led off with a double and came in to score on a sacrifice fly by Matt McLain. TJ Friedl would later single in Tyler Stephenson. Elly De La Cruz made it 7-1 with an RBI double into the right field corner.
Holding a 6-run lead, Cincinnati sent Brent Suter to the mound for the bottom of the 9th inning. He threw just five pitches, got three outs, and sealed the win to begin the road trip for the Reds.
Key Moment of the Game
The back-to-back RBI hits in the 8th inning by Elly De La Cruz and Austin Hays that turned a 1-run game into a 3-run game and gave Cincinnati a bit more wiggle room.
Notes Worth Noting
The win was the Reds 5th in a row. It pushed the club back above the .500 mark on the season.
TJ Friedl and Austin Hays both had three hits that included a double on the day. Elly De La Cruz and Gavin Lux both had two doubles.
The three hits by Hays raised his average on the season to .330.
Nick Lodolo lowered his ERA to 3.22 on the year through 10 starts. He had just one walk and now has just 10 of them on the year in 58.2 innings pitched this season.
Brent Suter dropped his ERA down to 1.75 through his 16 games and 25.2 innings this year.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Pittsburgh Pirates
Tuesday, May 20th, 6:40pm ET
Nick Martinez (2-4, 3.66 ERA) vs Bailey Falter (2-3, 4.02 ERA)
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