Coming into Wednesday night’s start, Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole had not allowed more than three runs in a game this season. That all changed 21 minutes into the game as a four-run and 38-pitch first inning allowed the Cincinnati Reds to win 5-2.
The outing was the shortest of Cole’s season and also the shortest since June 28 against the New York Mets when he went four innings.
“I didn’t bring out a good delivery tonight the stuff was a little flat,” Cole said. “I didn’t make pitches when I needed to make pitches in the first. It’s frustrating I couldn’t go deeper in the game. It boiled down to me not making pitches and just being flat. It happens sometimes.”
Cole allowed all five runs on eight hits and also walked three batters [he struck out five] on 106 pitches, 71 of which were for strikes.
In the first inning Billy Hamilton led off with an eight-pitch walk. Cole pitched Hamilton carefully and kept that approach with the Reds lead off hitter on the base paths. Hamilton ultimately stole second base, his 34th of the season and added his 35th advancing another 90 feet.
“If I could have thrown a runner out there it may have been a different story,” said catcher Chris Stewart.
Joey Votto struck out meaning there were two outs in the inning. Todd Frazier then took a 2-2 pitch and hit a sinking liner Gregory Polanco was unable to track down. This resulted in a double and the first run of the game.
Jay Bruce then stepped up to the plate and on a 3-2 pitch doubled to left field. Ray Searage then came to visit his pitcher and immediately following the end of the meeting, Marlon Byrd hit his 12th home run of the season into the center field seats.
“It’s not much fun to deal with [Hamilton’s speed] but it’s something I obviously thought we could have gotten out of,” said Cole. “I left a slider and obviously didn’t throw it far enough from Frazier. They were very selectively aggressive tonight especially in the first inning.”
The Reds have scored seven first inning runs thus far in this series.
In the bottom of the second inning, Neil Walker led off with his 17th double. A Josh Harrison sacrifice bunt advanced Walker to third and he scored on a Pedro Alvarez RBI ground out.
Both teams scored a single run in the fifth inning.
Byrd struck again for the Reds with an RBI single which scored Votto. Alvarez singled and advanced to third on a Jordy Mercer single. A Chris Stewart force out brought Alvarez home.
The Pirates had an additional opportunity to score in the seventh inning with Jung Ho Kang and Polanco in scoring position, however with two outs, Starling Marte struck out.
With Aroldis Chapman on the paternity list and out for the game it was J.J. Hoover who closed the game. Hoover earned his first save of the season and fifth of his career. It was his first save since May 16, 2013.
Thursday marks the series finale between the two teams. A.J. Burnett [6-3 2.05 ERA] will face Anthony DeSclafani [5-5 3.48 ERA]. Burnett is 8-6 with a 3.62 ERA in 18 career starts against the Reds. DeSclafani is 0-1 in two career starts against the Pirates.
Photo courtesy: Gene J. Puskar/AP
