In the second of a three game season opening series, the Pittsburgh Pirates shook off a 2-hour 34 minute rain delay but could not do the same with the Cincinnati Reds falling 5-4 early Thursday morning in 11 innings.
Both starters had high pitch counts in this game with Gerrit Cole departing after five innings for the Pirates and Mike Leake 5.2 with the Reds. Both received no decisions.
Cole threw 92 pitches, 56 of which were strikes while allowing five hits and three runs. Cole also walked two batters and struck out six.
Leake struggled with his control throughout the game throwing 106 pitches, 55 of which went for strikes. Leake allowed four hits and also surrendered three runs. While Leake struck out six batters, he also walked six.
Leake’s high point came in the first inning when he retired the side on six pitches.
Cole had a quick start recording two outs in the first inning however Todd Frazier connected on his second home run of the season hitting it to left and allowing the Reds to strike first.
The Pirates scored in the second after Pedro Alvarez hit an RBI double to center field. This was Alvarez’s first hit of the season and scored Neil Walker who walked to lead off the inning.
Cole got into trouble in the third inning giving up a lead off double to Zach Cosart who advanced to third on a Leake sacrifice bunt. Cole got the second out when Billy Hamilton struck out however a wild pitch scored Cosart.
A pair of Pirate doubles from Starling Marte and Francisco Cervelli tied the game at 2 with the latter earning the RBI. The back and forth battle continued with a fourth inning Brandon Phillips RBI single to once again put the Reds in the lead.
Once again though, the Pirates were able to counter. Josh Harrison and Gregory Polanco each walked to start the inning. Andrew McCutchen hit a grounder to Frazier. With Frazier blocking the base paths, Harrison got out of the original area touching the grass but was able to evade the tag. A batter later, Neil Walker hit a sacrifice fly to right field.
Two innings later, the Pirates took their first lead of the contest. McCutchen drew a lead-off walk. He tried to steal second and would have been out, but Reds reliever Tony Cingrani was called for a balk. After Cingrani recorded two outs, Reds Manager Bryan Price removed him in favor of Burke Badenhop. Badenhop allowed an RBI single to pinch hitter Corey Hart plating McCutchen.
Jared Hughes set the side down in order in the sixth and went out to pitch again in the seventh inning. Pinch hitter Brennan Boesch had a similar at-bat to Andrew Lambo but struck out in a nine pitch at-bat. This set up a Hamilton single and a pitching change. Antonio Bastardo came in to face fellow left-hander Votto. Votto got a seeing eye RBI single through the shift tying the game.
Arquimedes Caminero was summoned out of the bullpen following the Votto single and had to face Frazier. Frazier got out in front of a 99 mile per hour fastball just missing a third home run. He ultimately struck out for the second time in the game.
Tony Watson and Jumbo Diaz put up zeroes for their respective teams. Aroldis Chapman allowed a hit and did the same.
Rob Scahill made his Pirates debut in the ninth and Hamilton stole his third base of the season after he legged out a single. Votto had a chance to win the game, but the hard hit ground ball played right into the shift to force extra innings.
In extra innings, J.J. Hoover pitched the 10th inning and stranded Sean Rodriguez on second base. Rodriguez came in to pinch run following the Hart RBI single and replaced Alvarez at first base.
Mark Melancon pitched the bottom of the 10th and Liz took his turn in the 11th. In doing so, Liz was the 21st Pirates player used and was the last reliever. All of the bench players had previously entered the game.
Liz [0-1] hit Cosart with a pitch and Hamilton was walked. Liz surrendered a two out walk-off single to Votto ending the game. J.J. Hoover [1-0] picked up the win working both extra innings. This game was the latest ending since the 19 inning contest at Atlanta Jul. 26, 2011 which ended at 1:50 a.m. This game fell four minutes short of that.
A.J. Burnett will start the series finale Thursday at 12:35 against Anthony DiSclafani. Burnett is 7-6 with a 3.71 ERA career against the Reds in 16 outings.
Notebook: According to Rob Biertempfel of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review, Hurdle told the media prior to the game that pitcher Charlie Morton threw a side session on Monday. Hurdle also informed the media that the plan was for Morton to throw a couple of bullpens in addition to one or possibly two simulated games. After all of this is completed, Morton would begin his rehab assignment.
The Pirates revealed their home opener plans which include former “The Voice” finalist and Pittsburgh native Chris Jamison. Highmark Health President and Chief Executive Officer David Holmberg will throw out the first pitch to Chip Ganassi.
Andrew McCutchen’s hitting streak at Great American Ballpark ended after 11 games.
Photo credit: Carlos Osorio/AP
