Final
Reds-Pirates Preview
Apr 30, 2016 - 4:02 AM The perfect draw for a struggling pitching staff right now might be the Cincinnati Reds' slumping lineup. The right matchup to keep offensive production flowing may be their pitchers, too.The Pittsburgh Pirates will get another crack at both Saturday night when they go for their sixth straight win while trying to hand the visiting Reds as many losses in a row.
Both sides of the equation held up in Pittsburgh's series-opening 4-1 victory Friday night, its third straight at PNC Park. Home runs from Josh Harrison and Matt Joyce were more than enough as the Pirates (14-9) held the Reds to six hits.
Cincinnati (9-14) has lost seven of eight games, totaling 10 runs in the losses - just the right medicine for a Pirates' staff that surrendered 32 earned runs in its previous six contests.
Maybe the ugliest pitching line in that stretch came from Francisco Liriano's last start on Sunday, though the left-hander was pleased with his stuff.
Three of the four runs he gave up came off two early homers, but Liriano (1-1, 4.64 ERA) settled down to hold Arizona to four runs in six innings of an eventual 12-10, 13-inning win.
"Location-wise, everything was a lot more sharp. It was working a lot better down in the zone," Liriano told MLB's official website. "Just get ahead in the count and not try to do too much. That got better at the end."
Liriano continued to struggle with his command, walking three to give him 17 free passes through his first four starts. After tossing six innings of three-hit ball in a 4-1 opening day win over St. Louis, he has allowed 16 hits and 11 runs - nine off five homers - in 15 1/3 innings his last three outings.
While Liriano hopes he can continue to improve, Pittsburgh's lineup looks to keep rolling against the Reds, who have lost 13 of 17 since taking two of three from the Pirates April 8-10.
Harrison's fourth-inning solo homer in the opener was his first since May 15, snapping a drought of 379 at-bats. Joyce's two-run shot in the seventh inning was his third in 28 at-bats and raised his batting average to .357 after he signed a minor league contract in spring training following a miserable 2015 with the Los Angeles Angels.
The Pirates have hit nine home runs in their last four games and have averaged 12.6 hits and 8 runs during their winning streak - numbers that could keep climbing against the scuffling Alfredo Simon.
Simon (0-2, 16.39) skipped a turn in Cincinnati's rotation due to biceps tendinitis but returned Sunday by surrendering eight runs and 10 hits over 2 2/3 innings in a 9-0 loss to the Chicago Cubs.
"The good news is his arm is feeling better, but the result wasn't very good," manager Bryan Price told MLB's official website. "We have to get him back to being sharp down in the strike zone ... to give us a chance to keep the pitch count down and keep our starters in the game."
The right-hander only pitched long enough to qualify for a win in his first start while combining for 4 1/3 innings his last three outings - two starts and a relief appearance. His ERA is an astronomical 33.23 in that span after giving up 17 hits, four of them homers.
Simon is 3-1 with a 2.57 ERA in four starts at PNC Park.
- CINCINNATI: 1
PITTSBURGH: 5
Final
Sep 26 11:56 AM - Sean Rodriguez homers to center field. Matt Joyce scores.
Reds 1, Pirates 5 Bot 8, 0 OutsApr 30 10:03 PM - Josh Harrison out on a sacrifice fly to deep right field to Jay Bruce. Starling Marte scores.
Reds 1, Pirates 3 Bot 5, 1 OutApr 30 9:05 PM - Francisco Cervelli singles to center field. Starling Marte to second. David Freese scores.
Reds 1, Pirates 2 Bot 5, 0 OutsApr 30 8:57 PM - Zack Cozart doubles to deep left field. Billy Hamilton scores.
Reds 1, Pirates 1 Top 5, 2 OutsApr 30 8:45 PM - Zack Cozart grounds out to shortstop, Jordy Mercer to John Jaso.
Apr 30 7:08 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