Final/11
Cole looks to get Bucs into win column
Apr 8, 2015 - 11:31 AM (SportsNetwork.com) - Gerrit Cole hopes to pick up where he left off last season when Pittsburgh Pirates resume their season-opening three-game series with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.Cole's time was limited last season due to a lat injury, but he had perhaps the best start of his young career on the final day of the regular season against the Reds, as he scattered four hits and fanned 12 batters over seven innings.
Big things are expected from the 24-year-old right-hander, who owns a 3.45 ERA, 1.19 WHIP, and 8.4 K/9 through his first 255 1/3 career major league innings.
Cincinnati, meanwhile, will counter with righty Mike Leake, who was 11-13 last season with a 3.70 ERA. Leake, though, was extremely impressive this spring, pitching to a 1.35 ERA and an 11/3 K/BB ratio over 20 innings in the Cactus League.
Leake hasn't lost to the Bucs since May 5, 2012 and has a 5-0 record with a 3.42 ERA in the last 13 games he has started against them
Cincinnati got a tremendous performance from Johnny Cueto in Monday's opener, but it needed some late-inning heroics from Todd Frazier to propel it to a 5-2 win.
Frazier's three-run, eighth-inning homer was the difference after Andrew McCutchen had tied the game in the top half of the frame with a two-run homer off of reliever Kevin Gregg.
"Frazier had to do one job, hit the ball in the air -- and that's exactly what he did," said Cincinnati's Marlon Byrd. "It just went a little further than usual."
Gregg's misstep took a win away from Johnny Cueto, who fanned 10 and gave up four hits and a walk over his seven-inning start. Counterpart Francisco Liriano also lasted seven frames, allowing two runs on as many hits while fanning seven and issuing three walks.
Pittsburgh hasn't started a season 0-2 since opening the 2006 season with six straight losses.
Luckily for the Bucs they'll have their stopper on the hill, as 11 of Cole's 21 big league wins have followed losses.
- PITTSBURGH: 4
CINCINNATI: 5
Final/11
Apr 9 1:47 AM - Joey Votto singles to right field. Billy Hamilton to second. Zack Cozart scores.
Pirates 4, Reds 5 Bot 11, 2 OutsApr 9 1:46 AM - Joey Votto singles to right field. Billy Hamilton scores.
Pirates 4, Reds 4 Bot 7, 2 OutsApr 9 12:21 AM - Corey Hart singles to center field. Andrew McCutchen scores.
Pirates 4, Reds 3 Top 7, 2 OutsApr 9 12:01 AM - Walker hit a sacrifice fly to right fielder Bruce, Harrison scored, Polanco to third.
Pirates 3, Reds 3 Top 5, 2 OutsApr 8 11:10 PM - Neil Walker out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Jay Bruce. Gregory Polanco to third. Josh Harrison scores.
Pirates 3, Reds 3 Top 5, 1 OutApr 8 11:09 PM - Phillips singled to center, Frazier scored, Bruce to third.
Pirates 2, Reds 3 Bot 4, 2 OutsApr 8 10:53 PM - Brandon Phillips singles to center field. Jay Bruce to third. Todd Frazier scores.
Pirates 2, Reds 3 Bot 4, 2 OutsApr 8 10:52 PM - Francisco Cervelli doubles to deep center field. Starling Marte scores.
Pirates 2, Reds 2 Top 4, 2 OutsApr 8 10:38 PM - Joey Votto grounds out to second base, Josh Harrison to Pedro Alvarez.
Pirates 1, Reds 2 Bot 3, 2 OutsApr 8 10:30 PM - Pedro Alvarez doubles to deep left center field. Neil Walker scores.
Pirates 1, Reds 1 Top 2, 1 OutApr 8 10:03 PM - Josh Harrison lines out to left field to Marlon Byrd.
Apr 8 9:45 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
CINCINNATI: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 8 7:10 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