Starling Marte’s second game-winning home run of the season gave the Pirates a 6-4 win in 12 innings over the Cincinnati Reds Friday night. This also gave the Reds their 13th loss, the most since 1945.
“This is a big win for us, a resilient win for us because we’ve done this a few times this year,” Jordy Mercer said.
Jay Bruce entered play 2-for-21 lifetime against Francisco Liriano, however had two hits against him in this contest.
The first was a second inning single which was followed by a home run from Eugenio Suarez, his 13th of the season as Liriano missed location with a changeup. The inning ended when Gregory Polanco had his second 9-3 of the season with Keyvius Sampson, the Reds pitcher, not being able to beat the throw.
A two-run second was matched in the third inning. Bruce’s second hit was an RBI double which scored Joey Votto, who reached base on an infield single. Suarez then singled in Brandon Phillips.
Liriano lasted five innings and set a new career-high for most strikeouts in a single season with 205.
Sampson pitched a no-hitter through three innings, however this was broken by Andrew McCutchen who hit his 23rd home run of the season. This also tied McCutchen’s career-high for most RBI in a season.
“Sampson has good stuff,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “You can look at the ERA and beat that up all you want. You look at the sequences and the kid can pitch. You have to be ready to hit.”
The score remained 4-1 Reds, until a three-run sixth inning. Sampson was removed after loading the bases and was replaced by Tony Cingrani.
Cingrani first faced pinch-hitter Michael Morse and he walked allowing a run to come in. Pedro Alvarez then grounded into a fielder’s choice and Jordy Mercer singled tying the game.
Marte hit the game-winning home run over the Clemente Wall in right field, his 19th of the season. The Pirates magic number to clinch hosting the National League Wild Card game is one.
“Polanco got on base and the pitcher was worrying about him,” Marte said. “I was ready for the fastball away because I knew how he threw. I prepared myself to be ready for that pitch.”
Prior to the home run Marte made a sliding catch in the top half of the 12th inning to rob the Reds of a hit.
“I’ve played with him in A-ball and nothing’s new,” said Mercer.
Marte’s play was matched by a couple of play where Mercer had to show range and these helped give the Pirates momentum as both teams battled each other and the elements.
“You don’t know what a big play is until it actually unfolds and the inning is over,” Mercer said. “Those plays were big and got us back into the dugout.”
Arquimedes Caminero [5-1] got the win and Collin Balester [1-1] suffered the loss. Following Liriano’s five innings, the bullpen threw nine shutout innings and these efforts helped contain Todd Frazier who had an 0-for-6 night at the plate with a fielding error on the defensive side. Frazier’s six home runs against the Pirates are the most he has against any team.
The game was played with rain on and off that appeared to be a mix of rain and some snow. Mercer laughed when he was asked about the playing conditions.
“It was a little misty, but it was terrible conditions,” Mercer said. “It was freezing, windy and that mist out there the whole game so that made it even more fun to win this game.”
This series resumes Saturday when A.J. Burnett [9-6 3.15 ERA] potentially makes his final major league start. Brandon Finnegan [1-2 5.09 ERA] will get the ball for the Pirates. Burnett is 8-7 with a 3.90 ERA in 20 career starts against the Reds.
Photo credit: Joe Sargent/Getty Images
