Pirate Morning Report: Reds Help Pirates Blow Them Away.

Final Score: Pirates 17 Reds 7

Why The Pirates Won: The Pirate bats exploded for 17 runs on 19 hits to easily win the second game of the series. It was the 2nd inning that pretty much sealed the deal, and the Pirate bats had nothing to do with it. After Oneil Cruz struck out, the Reds issued 7 consecutive walks, allowing the Pirates to score 4 runs. They threw 28 balls to 9 pitches in the strike zone, and at one stretch, they threw 11 consecutive balls. When Henry Davis grounded out, he drove in the 10th run. For the game, the Reds’ pitchers walked 11 batters. The Reds gave up on this game early, using a position player to pitch the last 2 innings. The Pirate pitching did not shine, but it did not have to. Carmen Mlodzinski went a shaky 5 and 2/3 innings. He gave up 5 runs on 8 hits but struck out 10 batters while walking only 2. This was the offense’s winning game. They sent 9 or more men to the plate 3 times in the 1st, 2nd, and 4th innings, scoring 5 runs in each inning. Everyone that started had at least one RBI. All 17 runs were earned. The Pirates can now go for the sweep.

Key Moments Of The Game: The Reds roughed up Mlodzinski for 2 runs in the 1st inning, getting a walk and 2 doubles. The Pirates came back strong in the bottom of the 1st. Cruz opened the inning with a single and was balked to 2nd. Brandon Lowe singled Cruz home. Bryan Reynolds walked on 5 pitches. Ryan O’Hearn doubled home Lowe, sending Reynolds to 3rd. Gonzales grounded out but drove in the 3rd run. Marcell Ozuna got the first of his 3 hits, a double, to make the score 4-2. One out later, Konnor Griffin doubled home the 5th run. Mlodzinski gave up a solo home run in the top of the 2nd to make the score 5-3, and the game looked like it had the makings of a slugfest. Instead, it turned into a walk fest, and the Pirates were ahead 10-3 after 2 innings. The Pirates added another 5-spot in the 4th, and this game was over.

Next Game: This afternoon the Reds, in Pittsburgh at 1:35. Braxton Ashcraft goes for the Pirates and needs a bounce-back performance. The Reds counter with Chase Burns, who in the opening week of the season only gave the Pirates one hit over five innings. Since then, he has had only one bad outing, with an ERA of 2.65. The Pirates have scored 26 runs in the first two games of the series. This possible sweep of the series seems rather important after the debacle with the Cardinals. We will see if the Pirate bats can stay hot against a good young pitcher. The Pirates brought up Jared Triolo yesterday. I was a bit surprised that they sent down Nick Yorke. I know he has been slumping lately, but Billy Cook has only had 11 plate appearances in 32 games. Maybe he was out of options; who knows with this organization. I don’t think there is much difference between the two, but the Pirates decided to keep a guy who has seen live pitching 11 times since March 26th. Makes all the sense in the world.