Mark Melancon preserves the win over the Reds (Flickr.com/RJ Schmidt)
On the heels of a strong start from Jeff Locke and late-inning timely hitting, the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a sweep at Great American Ball Park to defeat the Cincinnati Reds 3-2.
The Pirates got on the board early off a Garrett Jones’ solo shot in the second versus Reds’ starter Homer Bailey. It was his second bomb in as many days and tenth of the season.
Locke held the Reds scoreless until the fifth. He issued back-to-back walks to Zack Cozart and Corky Miller before Bailey sacrificed them to second and third. He threw a wild pitch past Michael McKenry to the next batter, allowing Cozart to score and tie the game.
Locke’s control was shaky issuing four walks and throwing just 48 strikes on 87 pitches over six innings, but allowed only one hit and struck out six to record the victory.
The Pirates would break the tie in the seventh. McKenry got the inning started with a one out double to left center. Jordy Mercer singled him in to end the Pirates’ hitless streak with RISP. Two batters later, Jose Tabata would bring Mercer home on a single to give the Pirates’ a 3-1 lead.
Bailey was pulled after that, allowing three earned over 6 1/3. However, he did strike out a career high 12 batters.
The Pirates’ bullpen went to work after that but not without some rare trepidation. Mark Melancon came on in the 8th and walked the first batter, Derrick Robinson, he faced. After Shin Soo-Choo singled to put runners on the corners, Melancon walked Chris Heisey to load the bases. It was the 5th and 6th walks the Pirates’ set up man had allowed in 47 appearances.
But he proved why he was an All-Star. He got Joey Votto to hit into a double-play, trading a run for two outs to make it a 3-2 game. With the tying run on third, Brandon Phillips quietly grounded out to Barmes to end the inning.
In the 9th, Cincinnati would get the tying run on against Jason Grilli off a Todd Frazier single. But that was as close as they would come. Cozart lined out and Clint Barmes made e a nifty over the shoulder catch to retire Devin Mesoraco to end the game. It was Grilli’s 30th save in 31 tries.
Pittsburgh continues its extended road trip, traveling to Washington to take on the Nationals at 7:05 on Monday. Charlie Morton (1-2, 3.19 ERA) will face Dan Haren (4-10, 5.61 ERA).
NOTES: The Pirates improve to 57-39, two games back of St. Louis….James McDonald and Wandy Rodriguez are expected to begin throwing programs next week….Rodriguez has not pitched since June 6th while McDonald has been out since June 21st, suffering a setback after a minor league start….Kyle McPherson is expected to miss the rest of the season after undergoing Tommy John surgery on July 10th….AAA catcher Tony Sanchez went 3-3 with a home run for Indy…After a cold start to July, Mercer is riding a seven game hitting streak…Melancon recorded his 26th hold of the year
