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Pirates 4 Reds 1
Pirates rookie phenom Paul Skenes allowed a first inning run and that was that.
The ERA of the No. 1 pick in the 2023 draft dips to 2.29 after 6 IN, 7 H, 1 R, 1 BB, 7 K, 96 pitches/69 strikes.
Once Reds starter Carson Spiers allowed 3 runs in the bottom of the 1st it felt like it was really going to be an uphill battle. Toss in the Reds having two runners picked off, a fielding error and an outfield misplay, and it’s tough to beat anyone, let alone Skenes.
The Reds have dropped three straight and 5 of 7 to fall to 34-38. They are 16-35 in their last 51 in Pittsburgh. David Bell was ejected prior to the start of the 8th.
Mistakes: Leadoff batter picked off in consecutive innings. Elly fielding error (15). Was picked off 1B down 4-1 in the 6th.
Martini picked off 1st in the 7th. Benson misplayed a fly ball into a double.
Injury: TJ Friedl made a diving stab of a liner, but tweaked his hamstring and exited the game in the 5th.
Offense: 7 H, 1 BB, 9 K.....1 for 7 w/RISP
Trailing 4-1 in the 6th, they had three reach in the inning vs Skenes (2 H, BB).
But Elly was picked off and Stephenson grounded out.
They stranded a runner at 2nd when Spencer Steer struck out to end the 8th.
Elly: 3 H, 2B, SB (37). 3 multiple hit games in the last 4.
Jeimer Candelario: 1B, SB
Spencer Steer: 2 H, 2B, RBI
Tyler Stephenson: 1 for last 20.
Will Benson: 0 for 10 on the trip (0-2)
Nick Martini: H, HBP. 3 for 8, BB since recall.
Spiers: 6 IN, 7 H, 4 R, 1 BB, 5 K, 104 pitches/74 strikes.
1st: 3 H, BB, 3 R, threw 6 straight balls to start.
Retired final 8 hitters. Allowed 5 runs total in his previous 5 appearances/19.1 innings.
Bullpen: Brent Suter 2.0
The start of the game was delayed 33 minutes by rain.
It was game No. 72 for the Reds, but their first meetings with the Pirates this season.
Martini hit on hand. That’s 42 HBP for Reds batters. 3rd most MLB. Cleveland 50. Reds pitchers lead MLB with 45.
How they scored:
1st Steer 2-out RBI 2B, 1-0 Reds