| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cincinnati Reds (60-69) |
8 | 11 | 1 |
| Pittsburgh Pirates (55-75) |
9 | 12 | 0 |
| W: Agrazal (3-3) L: Bauer (10-11) SV: Vazquez (23) | |||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Trevor Bauer allowed eight runs in the first three innings and the Reds couldn’t quite come all of the way back as they were swept by the Pirates on Sunday.
The Offense
The game started out well for Cincinnati. Josh VanMeter and Freddy Galvis both walked. Singles by Aristides Aquino and Jose Iglesias brought in a run each, and then Curt Casali had a sacrifice fly that made it 3-0 before the Pirates even had a chance to come to the plate. But the Pirates did come to the plate and scored multiple runs in the first three innings and took an 8-3 lead after three.
The Reds chipped away. Curt Casali grounded out, but drove in Jose Iglesias in the 5th to make it 8-4. Kyle Farmer went deep for a solo homer in the 6th. Josh VanMeter hit one into the river in the 8th for a 2-run shot that made it 8-7. The Pirates got that run back in their half of the inning, though, to extend their lead back to 2 runs. And that was huge because Eugenio Suarez homered for the 35th time of the season in the 9th to make it 9-8. But that was all the offense could muster and they would fall just short of the comeback.
Jose Iglesias went 3-5 on the day. Kyle Farmer went 2-3 on a day in which he didn’t start the game. Josh VanMeter went 1-4 with a walk, 2 runs scored, and he had 2 RBI. Derek Dietrich went 1-3 and was hit by a pitch.
The Pitching
Trevor Bauer didn’t have it today and the Pirates touched him up for 8 runs, 7 of which were earned, in just 3.0 innings. That’s not exactly how you hope your starter responds to being handed a 3-0 lead before he ever takes the mound.
R.J. Alaniz took over for Bauer in the 4th inning and he tossed 2.0 perfect innings, recording a strikeout in the process. Robert Stephenson and Michael Lorenzen each tossed shutout innings to follow. Amir Garrett came out for the 8th. The lefty allowed an RBI double to Starling Marte that made it a 9-7 game, and that run loomed large as the Suarez homer would have otherwise tied the game up in the next inning.
Notes Worth Noting
Joey Votto did some field work before the game today, but isn’t quite ready to return from the injured list just yet.
Joey Votto fielded ground balls and did drills at 1st base before today's game, but he says he needs more reps hitting and fielding before returning from the IL. #Reds https://t.co/ykYXTKC9SV
— Bobby Nightengale (@nightengalejr) August 25, 2019
Josh VanMeter’s home run broke Trackman. It picked up the exit velocity and the launch angle of his home run into the river, but it did not pick up a distance.
Through five starts with the Reds, Trevor Bauer has posted a 7.62 ERA and through 26.0 innings.
There’s something in the water in Pittsburgh besides Josh VanMeter’s home run. The Reds have now lost 10 straight games at PNC Park.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Cincinnati Reds vs Miami Marlins
Monday August 26th, 7:10pm
Sonny Gray (9-6, 2.92 ERA) vs. Pablo Lopez (5-5, 4.23 ERA)