Game 1
Pirates 4 Reds 2
Pirates 22-year old rookie right hander Roansy Contreras tossed six innings of one run ball and the Pirates got to Mike Minor the third time through the order to beat the Reds 4-2 in Game 1 of Thursday's doubleheader at GABP.
Trailing 4-1 in the 8th, Tommy Pham's second hit of the day scored Jonathan India to cut the deficit to 4-2. A Mike Moustakas one out 9th inning single brought the tying run to the plate. But the Reds would get no closer.
Solano, India and Pham combined for seven hits. Everyone else was 1 for 22.
The Reds dropped to 28-54 on the season, 14-28 at GABP. They are a season low 26 games under .500. On pace to go 55-107. Game 2 of the doubleheader follows at 7:10 tonight.
No Minor accomplishment: 6.1 IN, 5 H, 4 R, 2 BB, 8 K. 103 pitches/69 strikes. Minor retired the first nine batters and took a no-hitter to the 5th inning before Diego Castillo homered to make it 1-0. It ended Minor's scoreless streak at nine innings going back to his last start (final 5 innings vs Braves). The Pirates tacked on two runs in the 6th and another that caused his departure with one out in the 7th. On a normal day he would have been out before the 7th, but the Reds have 18 innings to cover today.
Injury exit: Luis Cessa exited (back?) after retiring one batter and going 3 and 2 on his second batter in the 7th.
Debut: Ian Gibaut, claimed off waivers from the Dodgers on Tuesday, replaced Cessa and walked the batter inherited, but recorded the next out to retire the side. He went 1.1 scoreless innings.
Handled: Contreras tossed six innings and allowed just 1 R, 4 H, 1 BB, 7 K. He had lasted just 1.2 innings in his last start vs the Brewers, allowing seven runs and three homers.
Break out: Donovan Solano homered (1) to tie the game 1-1 bottom of the 5th and collected three hits. He was 1 for his last 20 entering the game.
Back to work: Nailed on the ankle by a pitch last night, Jonathan India was right back in the lineup. He lined a single in his first AB and added a double in the 8th inning. He did show some discomfort while running.
Snapped: Aramis Garcia was 0 for 2, halting his six game hitting streak.