Jesse Winker went off as he homered and drove in six runs as the Cincinnati Reds picked up their 60th win of the season by beating the Pittsburgh Pirates 11-3 on Saturday night at Great American Ball Park.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates (41-70) |
3 | 9 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (60-51) |
11 | 14 | 0 |
| W: Gutierrez (7-3) L: Keller (3-9 |
|||
| Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread | |||
The Offense
After the Pirates took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third it was the signal that Cincinnati’s offense needed to get going and they did just that. Shogo Akiyama led off with a single and after Vladimir Gutierrez struck out, Jonathan India singled, Jesse Winker doubled in a run, Nick Castellanos singled in another run, and then Joey Votto capped off the inning with a sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
Two innings later it was another notch in the belt for Nick Castellanos as he led off the fifth inning with an opposite field solo homer to extend the lead to 4-1. Cincinnati played add on in the sixth inning, too. Tucker Barnhart singled to lead off and he moved to third on a double by Aristides Aquino. That set up Jesse Winker with two outs to drive in both with a single into right field as the Reds pushed their lead to 6-1.
After a strikeout to begin the bottom of the eighth inning, Shogo Akiyama singled and Tyler Naquin walked to put two on for Jonathan India. He came through with an RBI single to make it 7-3. Cincinnati wasn’t done because Jesse Winker hit a laser beam into the seats in right to make it 10-3. Still not finished. Joey Votto cracked his 11th home run in the last 13 games to make it 11-3.
The Pitching
Vladimir Gutierrez had to work around a hit and a walk in the first inning, but he did just that. In the second inning he had to work around a double, but he picked off Anthony Alford to face the minimum in the inning. The Pirates broke through in the third when Ke’Bryan Hayes doubled and scored when Bryan Reynolds followed with a triple, but Gutierrez got a ground out to limit the damage to a single run. A 2-out double in the fourth inning would be the last baserunner that Gutierrez allowed as he completed six strong innings with just one run allowed as he struck out six Pirates on the night.
Luis Cessa came out to pitch the seventh inning and he made easy work of the 6-7-8 hitters for the Pirates as he picked up two strikeouts while needing just 10 pitches in the inning to hold a 6-1 lead. Brad Brach took over in the eighth and got the first two batters out on fly balls, but walked Ke’Bryan Hayes and as the saying goes: Walks Will Haunt. Bryan Reynolds followed with a blast onto the turf beyond the wall in center to make it a 6-3 game. That led to a pitching change to bring in Amir Garrett, who struck out Colin Moran to send the game to the bottom of the frame.
Justin Wilson came out for the final inning, but it wasn’t easy. After getting John Nogowski to fly out, the Pirates got back-to-back singles from Rodolfo Castro and Anthony Alford. Michael Perez grounded into a force out at second, but just beat the throw to first to keep Pittsburgh alive for at least one more batter. A soft liner into center was grabbed by a sliding Shogo Akiyama to end the game as the Reds moved to 60-51 on the season with the win.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds
Sunday August 8th, 1:10pm ET
Bryse Wilson (4-2, 4.42 ERA) vs Tyler Mahle (8-3, 3.86 ERA)
Great write up, Doug. Did anyone else notice Stephenson blowing a bubble as he stretched to catch the throw from Farmer on the attempted double play? Classic baseball card shot.
Thanks Doug,
The Reds are developing a “murderers row”. Let’s go!
Gimme some more Shogo. He’s finding a groove.
Here’s an easy one: Any guesses on who’s cut tomorrow when they add Sims??
A little tougher: Will he clear waivers and go to AAA?
Brach had some of that Hembree with heartburn look going on in the dugout after he came out
Lol. He looked like a Dead Man Walking when he hit the field. I imagine a few of the guys in the pen were hiding in the corner hoping their name wasnt called when the phone rang. Brach is at the top of that list.
I’d have to guess Brach will be the odd man out when Sims returns.
Glad to see someone agrees with me on Shogo. If you play him everyday he will produce. Isn’t he also the best defensive OF we have?
No question about that! He is a tremendous CFer!
Very good w glove but noodle arm.
I certainly wouldn’t give up on Shogo.
I think we need to see more of him in CF for the short term. Senzel needs to stay at AAA for now. AA shows some promise also.
Would Shogo likely benefit from playing everyday and being able to get in a groove? Yes. Most players would do better with consistency over irregular appearances. Being able to see a pitcher more than one time is a benefit. But what’s the end game? Shogo doesn’t hit for any power. At all. He’s got 6 doubles in 144 PA. He had 6 doubles and a triple in 183 PA last season when he was seeing more regular at bats. His OBP (which isn’t good) is higher than his slugging percentage. That’s pretty hard to do. His OPS+ is 45. Even when Farmer was struggling over the first half of the season his OPS+ was in the 60’s. He makes good reads in the OF, but his arm is weak for a CF. He’s got a little speed but has been caught stealing more times this season than he’s stolen bases. I just don’t see the upside, especially when Naquin as lefty has provided better overall offense and better platoon offense than Akiyama.
THATTA BOY BUSTER!
Giants now leading Brewers 5-2 in the 10th
Better late than never with these 9th & 1oth inning heroics lol … didn’t think it was gonna happen
Angels are up 3-2 in the 5th over the Dodgers too
well argggh 2 homers and the Brewers have now tied it up and it’s Garcia vs Garcia for the 3rd out to keep it tied and move to the 11th … got him … the Giants need to find them some wooden stakes
Love this team and the Players.
Good players but even better people.
Now one more to go.
Take care of Bis tomm.
Go Reds onto tomm.
Man Must be Brewers Year
Well glad Giants pulled it out.
Probably not the biggest story of the game – but I really like to see Shogo starting to get on base and score some runs. I would like to see him play well enough to claim the CF job for the rest of the season.
Made a pretty nice catch in the 9th too. That was a play I don’t think any other Reds OF makes.
He seems like he wants to contribute so badly. That last catch was sheer joy on his face.
Hope Brach earned his DFA tonight and that Vlad sticks with the team. I’d seen an earlier report saying he’d be optioned for Sims. Playing the Pirates 10 more times is just the shot in the arm the Reds need.
Vlad was never getting optioned for Sims.
Vlad is set in the rotation for the foreseeable future. Brach will certainly be the one to go. The Reds have 9 RP right now. That is too many when most are now pretty darn good.
Giants you’re so disapointing.
Brewers 2 HRs to tie it bottom 10th. I swear they just find a way every night it seems.
Wildcard is best we can do I think. I know we’re 6-1 in Milw, but they’re so hot that I hope we don’t get swept there. We’re hot too so who knows? We should have Antone by then
We are hot, and fun to watch. But I’m trying to keep my euphoria in check: we’re playing the poor Pirates.
Watching game. To the 11th.
Stupid Brewers
Sal Romano now on the mound for the Brewers!
6-5 Giants 🙂
Woo Hoo! Thanks Sal. Two Run HR 8-5 Giants!
Go Giants!
Yeah! Romano is pitching for the Brewers. Come on Sal. 🙂
Gives up a Belt belt, back to 3 up
Feels kind of good someone else is taking OUR castoffs and getting beat with them. hahaha
LOL! I love it! I had no idea Romano was with the Brewers. Hope they use him a lot!!
9-5 🙂
On to the bottom of the 11th. Come on Giants. Get the job done.
Runner to 3rd. One out.
Reds score 6. “Alright lets chill out a bit” Pirates Homer. Reds “oh they still think they have a chance
I think the best scenario for the Reds, if they can’t win the division, is to try to avoid playing LA in a series til the NLCS.
Sal doing what Sal does. Milw must be in atleast a little trouble if they signed his sorry exterior
They have quite a few covid cases so yeah kinda
Who knew Sal had a knuckle curve?
But now Pads go back in front and the Dodgers draw even
Belt belted Romano and the Giants continue to add on!
How has Sal Romano cashed so many checks in mlb? There has to be better guys than him in the minors.
Highway robbery isn’t it – just crazy !
I’m taping Thunderbolt and Lightfoot with Clint Eastwood and Jeff Bridges. Didn’t they blow open bank vaults with an anti-tank gun? I haven’t seen it in 30 years, but I remember I liked it
Brewers will now DFA Romano and pick up Brach! LOL
haha! You just might be right. 🙂 One out. Two to go.
Two down. 🙂
Within 6. You never know
9-6 Come on Giants Stop em!
How’d you like to have the Under in this game? 2-1 after 8 innings you’d feel pretty secure! Now it’s 9-6!! Sheesh!
Three outs! We’re six back. 🙂
Cueto pitches tomorrow. I want to win the division and forget about the Wild Card. Let’s go!
They should still set a dual sight on WC1 so whoever ultimately plays WC can’t just completely stack their pitching staff towards the play-in game, just in case … right now 6 games back of both
Great game all around. Reds are doing what they need to do to the Pirates. Not many teams are going to want to face this Reds’ lineup and with Castillo, Miley and Gutierrez all pitching really well, I’m starting to like their chances. Bullpen is still a work, but Wilson has been surprisingly solid along with the other two new acquisitions. Just need Antone back instead of Brach and hope Sims finds some form.
This guy for the Dodgers right now throws a 1o1+mph sinker. but the Angels got to him in extras last night despite that and they’v got 2 on, 2 out with Ohtani at bat right now, top o’ the 8th
Strikes out but hopefully he’s now done for the night … 3-3 to the bottom of the 8th
If the Reds get Antone back and he is like his normal self, the Brewers are in trouble (they might already be in trouble). This Reds lineup is ridiculous. But I’m trying to manage my excitement since it’s the Pirates.
Way to go Giants. Finally, we gain on game on the stupid Brewers.
Get the sweep tomorrow mis Rojos!
now I can see why the Brewers are in first -they have played Pitt 16 times–let the new guys (except Wilson) play bigger roles Givens in the 8th, Lorenzen in the ninth –Sims can pitch the seventh. WAY too early to scoreboard watch –that starts a month from now!
You don’t think it has anything to do with their bullpen being able to lock down games when they are leading after 7 and ours being terrible for a lot of the season so far?
Jim just think where we would be if we had a bullpen. It looks like things are shaping up with the pen but we have to avoid injuries from here on out.
Alan couldn’t agree more
3 things i really liked to see in this game:
1. Shogo seems to be coming around a little bit at the plate. remember , he really came on strong late last year and was a big reason we made the playoff run in 2020. I love having speed at the top and bottom of the line up with India and Shogo
2. i admired Aquino’s broken bat double to the left field wall. i once saw Dave Parker hit a broken back opposite field homerun. I think Aquino has that type of power. Then he races home from second on a India single to right ala Billy Hamilton. i think Aquino has all the talent in the world!
3. I loved both Winker’s and Castellanos home run trots. they both have a great bounce to their step and are playing with a lot of confidence right now
The Reds have embarrassed the Pirates 3 straight this weekend but we have 1 more to go. Hope the guys stay focused and finish the job. Everygame is big when your 6 back in division and chasing a WC spot.
Imagine if the Reds hadn’t even a competent bullpen and didn’t blow 4 games in the 9th inning over the last month.
Suddenly we are 64-47 and 2 GB in the division and currently in the playoffs in the second wild card position. Those losses are going to eat at me (especially the 4 run 9th to the Royals) if we just miss out on the playoffs.