Photo provided by Matt Lynch
The Pirates flirted with danger for much of the game, and it finally came back to bite them in the ninth inning of a 3-2 walk-off loss to the Reds at Great American Ballpark on Thursday night.
Scoring Plays
Bottom 3rd, 2-0 CIN: The Reds (51-57) plated a pair of runs off Hunter Barco. Elly De La Cruz broke the scoreless tie with an RBI single and scored on a Sal Stewart base hit.
Top 5th, 2-1 CIN: The Pirates (55-55) got a run back off Rhett Lowder in the fifth. Nick Gonzales doubled and advanced to third on an Endy Rodríguez base hit. He scored on a Jacob Gonzalez sacrifice fly to center.
Top 6th, 2-2: Brandon Lowe tied the game with a 402-foot solo home run to right field to open the inning, his 23rd of the season.
Bottom 9th, 3-2 CIN: With the bases loaded and one out in the ninth, Nathaniel Lowe hit a weak chopper to the drawn-in Jared Triolo at short, who flipped behind him to second base for the second out. The throw to first, however, was not in time. In to score was Elly De La Cruz, who doubled off Gregory Soto (5-3) to open the inning.
Key Moments
The Pirates had the bases loaded with two outs in the seventh but Reds lefty reliever Brock Burke struck out Brandon Lowe on a check swing.
After Ellly De La Cruz’s leadoff double in the ninth, Sal Stewart was intentionally walked and Tyler Stephenson drew a one-out walk before the walk-off fielder’s choice.
Player of the Game
Reds shortstop Elly De La Cruz finished 3 for 4 with three doubles, an RBI and two runs. He also drew a walk and stole two bases.
Stat to Know
Per the Elias Sports Bureau, Yohan Ramírez’s 208 MLB relief appearances before his first-career start are the most by any player before making his first MLB start with the Pirates.
Notable Performances
Yohan Ramírez: 2.0 innings, one hit, no runs, one walk, four strikeouts, 39 pitches/23 strikes
Hunter Barco: 3.0 innings, five hits, two runs, three walks, two strikeouts, 72 pitches/42 strikes
Brandon Lowe: 1 for 4, one home run, one RBI, one run
Nick Gonzales: 2 for 4, one double, one run
Endy Rodríguez: 1 for 3, one walk, two steals
Noteworthy
The Reds went 1 for 15 with runners in scoring position.
Nick Gonzales extended his career-high hitting streak to 14 games. It’s the longest-active streak in MLB.
Jake Mangum extended his hitting streak to seven games. Brandon Lowe extended his to five.
LHP Evan Sisk (left elbow inflammation) began a rehab assignment with Triple-A Indianapolis.
Up Next
RHP Paul Skenes (9-9, 3.65 ERA) will be on the mound for the Pirates on Friday night. RHP Hunter Greene (2-2, 7.06 ERA) will make his fifth start for the Reds since returning from the injured list. First pitch: 6:10 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.
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