Rodriguez’s home run in 9th gives Pirates 3-2 win over Reds
Dan Straily is scheduled to oppose the Pirates for the third time this season.
While Ivan Nova continued to struggle with the home run ball in his first start as a Pirate, he allowed two to Brandon Phillips, they were both solo home runs and this helped to limit damage.
The Bucs managed to cluster many of their baserunners today and hit two home runs, but still didn’t manage much offense.
Reds: RHP Homer Bailey (1-0, 3.18 ERA), who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery a year ago, will make his second start of the season. Watson blew the save Friday night but the Pirates rallied for a 3-2 win. Buccos starter Ivan Nova won his first start since coming over from NY with all three runs allowed on six hits through seven innings.
Taillon allowed one run on six hits over six innings, with one walk and six strikeouts. Tucker Barnhart drove in Eugenio Suarez from second three batters later, giving Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.
Phillips hit his second homer of the game, and eighth of the season, in the seventh inning.
The Pirates scored twice against Bailey (1-1) in the third to move in front 3-2. 2B Brandon Phillips was the lone Red to provide a substantial offensive spark with two hits, a walk and one RBI in four at-bats. Jordy Mercer followed with a squeeze bunt to bring in the go-ahead run. Cole ended his outing having struck out six and walked three.
“You can imagine how I feel about that at this point and I’m going to walk away from it”, Price said. “I wanted to go out there and do what a starting pitcher is supposed to do, go as deep as I can”. “When we get those kinds of bases stolen, that’s on the manager”. While the Pirates’ starting rotation definitely needs a boost, Ivan Nova did not appear to be a pitcher capable of providing said boost. “The bullpen pitched great but the starter didn’t”. Cincinnati, which has won all six series since the All-Star break, will be looking to avoid back-to-back losses for the first time since dropping three in a row from July 8-10.
Pirates: 3B David Freese (left elbow discomfort) was removed from the game in the seventh inning.RF Gregory Polanco (left shoulder discomfort) did not start for a third straight game.
The Pittsburgh Pirates will attempt to get back into the wild-card hunt by finishing off a sweep of the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday at PNC Park.
The Pirates purchased RHP Curtis Partch’s contract from Triple-A Indianapolis to take the bullpen spot of RHP Arquimedes Caminero, who was traded to the Seattle Mariners for a player to be named. “That’s my responsibility”, Hurdle said.
The over is 7-2 in Pittsburgh’s last 9 Sunday games and is 35-17 in their last 52 home games while the Pirates are 8-1 in Cole’s last 9 Sunday starts.
After winning the first two games, the Pirates will send right-hander Gerrit Cole to the mound, where he will look to continue his recent string of impressive starts.