Pittsburgh Pirates pitcher Gerrit Cole was looking for his first career win against the Cincinnati Reds. Cole left the game still looking for his first victory against the Reds.
The Pirates fell 4-3 to the Reds Saturday evening.
Cole [14-5] has defeated every other National League Central opponent at least once. He has gone six innings in 17 of his 21 starts this season and the lone four he has not reached that mark are all against the Reds.
“They have confidence when they go up against Gerrit,” manager Clint Hurdle said to assembled media. “He’s got to go out and do it. I thought he pitched a professional game tonight and is a step closer against these guys.”
While the defense came through for the Pirates in Friday night’s game it disappointed one game later.
Marlon Byrd hit a ball that was misplayed by Andrew McCutchen which allowed for a triple. The Reds struck first as Eugenio Suarez hit a sacrifice fly to score Byrd.
Jung Ho Kang tied the score at one with a two out 2-2 home run against Raisel Iglesias [2-3]. It was Kang’s eighth home run of the season and landed in the second deck of seating.
Byrd recorded a one-out fourth inning single which brought Brayan Pena to the plate. Pena hit a hard-hit normally routine ground ball to Pedro Alvarez, however the ball went through Alvarez’s legs. Instead of being able to return to the dugout, the Pirates had to deal with two Reds runners on base.
This extended the amount of pitches Cole had to throw, something he would pay for.
Suarez recorded his second RBI of the night with a double. Cole settled down to strike out the next two batters to minimize the damage.
The Reds scored again in the fifth inning. Brandon Phillips singled to lead off the inning and advanced to second on a passed ball from Chris Stewart. Jay Bruce had an RBI double to bring Phillips in.
Iglesias who kept the Pirates off balance and swinging out of the zone for the variety of his start gave up a second run in the seventh inning.
Neil Walker singled and advanced to second when Alvarez walked. Stewart was due up but looked into the dugout and the Pirates decided to lift him for Travis Ishikawa. The move paid off as Ishikawa singled beating Iglesias’ glove bring Walker in to score.
Burke Badenhop came in and struck out Francisco Cervelli looking to end the inning.
Joe Blanton retired the Reds in order to start the seventh however ended his first outing with the Pirates allowing an eighth inning run on a Suarez sacrifice fly.
Aroldis Chapman picked up his 22nd save in 23 chances although the Pirates made him work for it.
Walker singled once again and with two outs and two strikes on pinch-hitter Sean Rodriguez the Pirates stayed alive as a 102 mile-per-hour fastball was hit for another single. Cervelli then hit a third single just dropping in front of Billy Hamilton.
Gregory Polanco then worked a walk to load the bases, however after a mound visit, Chapman struck out Starling Marte to end the game. Marte was 0-for-5 in the game ending his 10-game hitting streak.
The four-game series concludes Sunday afternoon as Charlie Morton [6-4 4.61 ERA] faces Keyvius Sampson [0-0 0.00 ERA]. Morton has not won a game in over a month and Sampson made a brief scoreless relief appearance in Thursday’s contest between these two teams.
Photo courtesy: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
