Final
Reds drop Pirates; Pittsburgh fails in bid for NL Central title
Sep 28, 2014 - 11:01 PM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Kristopher Negron's two-run homer capped a three-run eighth inning, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, on Sunday.The Pirates entered the final day of the regular season a game behind St. Louis in the NL Central. Pittsburgh needed to win and have the Cardinals lose against Arizona to force a one-game tiebreaker at Busch Stadium to determine the division champion. But the Cardinals won the division title with the Pirates' loss.
Pittsburgh (88-74) will host the Giants in the NL wild card game on Wednesday. The Pirates also hosted the wild card game last year and beat the Reds before losing to the Cardinals.
"Now we know where we are," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "We'll go home, work out Tuesday and be ready to fight again."
Johnny Cueto (20-9) was sharp en route to his 20th victory of the season, giving up one run on six hits over eight innings. He struck out seven and became the first Reds pitcher to win 20 games since Danny Jackson in 1988. He's the first Reds right-hander to win 20 since 1965, when Sammy Ellis and Jim Maloney did it.
"I feel really happy, because I've won 19 games before [in 2012], I want to break my own personal record," said Cueto. "You always want to win 20, and I feel really, really happy."
The Reds (76-86) finished the season fourth in the NL Central.
Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole allowed one run on four hits while striking out 12 over seven innings.
It was a 1-1 game in the bottom of the eighth when Jason Bourgeois led off with a triple to left-center field against reliever Tony Watson (10-2). Cueto helped his own cause with an RBI single to center. Justin Wilson came in from the bullpen and gave up a two-run homer to Negron.
Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless ninth to record his 36th save of the season.
Earlier, the Reds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Negron singled, moved to third on Brandon Phillips' single and raced home on Todd Frazier's groundout.
Neil Walker homered in the fourth to make it 1-1.
Game Notes
Cincinnati won the season series, 12-7 ... Pirates first baseman Ike Davis left the game in the fourth inning with flu-like symptoms ... Cueto improved to 18-4 lifetime against the Pirates ... Pittsburgh's Josh Harrison went 0- for-4, ending his career-high 15-game hitting streak.
- PITTSBURGH: 1
CINCINNATI: 4
Final
Sep 28 3:57 PM - Kristopher Negron one-out, two-run Home Run (6) to left scored Yorman Rodriguez. Brandon Phillips due up.
Pirates 1, Reds 4 Bot 8, 1 OutSep 28 3:37 PM - Johnny Cueto single to center scored Jason Bourgeois with one out. Runner on first and Kristopher Negron due up.
Pirates 1, Reds 2 Bot 8, 1 OutSep 28 3:31 PM - Neil Walker lead-off Home Run (23) to right. Starling Marte due up.
Pirates 1, Reds 1 Top 4, 0 OutsSep 28 2:10 PM - Todd Frazier grounded out third to first scoring Kristopher Negron with one out. On the play, Brandon Phillips advances to second. Runner on second and Devin Mesoraco due up.
Pirates 0, Reds 1 Bot 1, 1 OutSep 28 1:25 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
CINCINNATI: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Sep 28 1:10 PM
Related News
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 6 - Drew Maggi gets his moment Dec 23
- The Pirates got it right with Andrew McCutchen Dec 22
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates’ Andrew McCutchen makes comments after signing Dec 22
- Pirates targeting first baseman in upcoming MLB Draft Dec 22
- Cincinnati Reds sign Brooks Kriske, Hernan Perez to minor league deals Dec 21
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates sign Ryan Mattson Dec 21
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 7 - Johan Oviedo shuts out the Royals Dec 20
- Andrew McCutchen re-signs with Pirates for 2024 season Dec 19
- San Francisco Giants acquire TJ Hopkins from Cincinnati Reds Dec 19
- Talk the Plank Podcast: The Pirates are a bit ‘Rowdy’ Dec 19
- Bucs Arghticles: Pirates sign Martín Pérez to deal Dec 19
- Pirates sign Martin Perez to one-year deal Dec 18