Joakim Soria was making his Pittsburgh Pirates debut and loaded the bases while loading the bases. He then fell behind Brayan Pena 3-0 before making hard contact on a 3-1 offering.
The Cincinnati Reds appeared poise to tie or lead the game on the play, however Soria stuck his glove out and ended the inning to Pena’s surprise.
Following a 10-run loss Thursday, the Pirates came back and tied the four-game series with a 5-4 victory. The Pirates finish the month at a National League best 17-9 which ties their June mark for most wins in a month this season.
Jung Ho Kang hit an RBI double in the top of the first inning, however the Reds responded with three runs against Jeff Locke. Kang had three doubles in this game and has 17 on the season.
Ivan DeJesus opened the scoring with a two-run home run, his fourth of the season. Jason Bourgeois then grounded into a force out. The ball deflected off Aramis Ramirez’s glove and Kang had one play which was to get the runner out at third base. Pitcher Michael Lorenzen scored on the play.
Pedro Alvarez put the Pirates within one with an RBI single in the fourth inning which plated Kang. An inning later, Andrew McCutchen hit an opposite field home run, his 15th of the season to tie the game.
A two-run sixth inning was the difference in this game.
The Pirates loaded the bases with a Kang double, intentional walk of Francisco Cervelli and an eight-pitch walk to pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa. This ended Lorenzen’s night and brought Jumbo Diaz into the game.
Diaz threw a wild pitch which allowed Kang to just barely touch home before a tag was made. Gregory Polanco was then walked and Starling Marte followed with an RBI single. Cervelli scored and Rick Sofield waved Ishikawa home though the throw in and tag beat him to the plate.
Jared Hughes pitched the bottom of the sixth inning and allowed a home run to Marlon Byrd on a 1-0 pitch. Byrd’s 18th home run of the season is the second run Hughes has allowed in his past 26 games.
Soria walked Joey Votto with two outs and this was followed by a Todd Frazier single and a walk to Byrd. Pena then had his lineout which was a 98 mile-per-hour contact straight up the middle that was intercepted by Soria’s glove.
Tony Watson set down the Reds in order and struck out two batters to earn his major league leading 24th hold of the season.
Mark Melancon pitched the ninth inning and allowed a leadoff single to Brandon Phillips. Bourgeois then hit a sacrifice bunt advancing Phillips to second. Votto then walked bringing up Frazier.
Frazier singled and Reds third base coach Jim Riggleman waved Phillips home. Marte threw a low one-hop throw that Cervelli grabbed and tagged out Phillips. The play was reviewed and the call stood. Marte earned his ninth outfield assist which ties Matt Kemp for the National League lead.
“He does something every night that was so impressive,” Mark Melancon said to Root Sports following the game. “Thank heavens it was that play we needed it. The view I had it was like a rocket coming out of that arm it was incredible.”
Byrd then hit a tailing fly ball that Marte made a diving catch on hitting the outfield grass hard to secure the out. The outfielders tipped their caps and Marte got a big hug coming in from the play.
Melancon earned his league leading 33rd career save and has now thrown 22 consecutive scoreless innings. This is his 31st consecutive save and he ties Joel Hanrahan for fifth on the Pirates all-time saves list with 82. Coming into the night Melancon had a 0.22 ERA in his last 41 appearances.
Locke [6-6] earned the win while Lorenzen [3-6] took the loss.
This series continues Saturday as Gerrit Cole [14-4 2.24 ERA] faces Raisel Iglesias [1-3 5.53 ERA]. Cole is 0-3 with a 5.53 ERA in five career starts against the Reds.
Photo credit: Leon Halip/Getty Images
