The Cincinnati Reds' bats obliged when a bigger day offensively was needed to get out of PNC Park with a series split.
PITTSBURGH, PA − The Cincinnati Reds bats came to life in their series finale against the Pittsburgh Pirates, and they needed every single ounce of offense they could produce in what ended up being one of the craziest games of the Reds' season.
Looking to split their four-game series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, Cincinnati acted as the frontrunner all game but the Pirates wouldn't go away. Reds' pitchers and the leads they protected with were continually under threat until, with a 9-8 lead in the top of the ninth inning, Noelvi Marte belted a three-run homer 427 feet into PNC Park's shrubs in dead-center field for a 12-8 lead. The Reds went on to win, 14-8, in the marathon game played before a crowd of 21,239.
Marte, the No. 6 batter in the Reds' lineup, went 3-for-5 with four RBIs and three runs scored. Spencer Steer, the No. 7 hitter, also went 3-for-5 with four RBIs, including a two-run homer in the eighth that looked to have put the game away at that point.
Cincinnati padded its lead again in the ninth inning when T.J. Friedl walked with the bases loaded, and then Matt McLain drove in a run on a sacrifice fly.
Reds starting pitcher Zack Littell couldn't get out of the fifth inning and lasted 4 2/3 innings. He surrendered four runs. Reds relievers picked up the slack and some labored along the way, but Brent Suter finished the ninth to end to end the marathon game.
The Reds led, 9-5, entering the bottom of the eighth inning but the Pirates plated three runs in their at-bat, including two on a McLain throwing error after he caught a line drive for the second out and attempted to end the frame by catching a Pirates' runner off the bag at second base. McLain's throw sailed over Elly De La Cruz and into left field.
Order was restored in the Reds' half of the ninth inning, and reliever Brent Suter shut the door on Pittsburgh in the bottom of the frame.
The teams combined for 30 hits with the Pirates knocking 16 to the Reds' 14.
The Reds improved to 62-57, and while the Pirates took the first two games of the four-game series, the Reds' series split allowed them to post a winning, 4-3 roadtrip. Cincinnati took two of three games off the Chicago Cubs to begin the week.
The win also ended up gaining the Reds a game on the the New York Mets, who lost again, meaning the Reds trail the final wild-card spot by only 1 1/2 games enter games of Aug. 11.
The road ahead for the Reds
Following the Speedway Classic ordeal, Cincinnati acquitted itself well in the week that followed. The Reds won their series against the Cubs at Wrigley, which marked Cincinnati's second series victory against an NL Central rival this year. Then, after losing the first two games of the Pirates series, the Reds afforded themselves a winning, 4-3 road trip by splitting the four games at PNC Park. That's not too bad considering the Reds had to contend with Bucs starting pitchers Paul Skenes and Mitch Keller to start the series.
Over that seven-game span, solid pitching outings from Littell on Aug. 5, Andrew Abbott, Chase Burns and Martinez gave the bullpen some breathing room after the Cincinnati relievers were taxed by back-to-back bullpen games Aug. 2 and 3, and then by Brady Singer's shorter outing Aug. 7 in Pittsburgh.
The Reds could still use an off day, though, and they won't get it until Thursday. In the meantime, they'll have to keep pace in the playoff race against the suddenly-hot NL East-leading Philadelphia Phillies. Entering play Aug. 10, the Phillies had won seven of their last 10 games and, thanks in part to the Mets' six-game slide, built a 4.5-game cushion in the division.
The Phillies won two of three games versus the Reds at Citizens Bank Park July 3-5.
Here's how the starting pitching matchups look for Reds-Phillies, and Cincinnati could benefit from the return of Opening Day starter, Hunter Greene. Fortunately for Cincinnati, they'll miss one of Philly's Cy Young Award candidates in Zack Wheeler, who pitched Aug. 10 against the Texas Rangers. They'll likely still have to face the other Phillies Cy Young contender, Christopher Sanchez.
- Monday (Great American Ball Park, 6:10 p.m.): Reds LHP Andrew Abbott (8-2, 2.34 ERA) vs. Phillies TBD.
- Tuesday (Great American Ball Park, 6:40 p.m.): Reds RHP Brady Singer (9-9, 4.53 ERA) vs. Phillies TBD.
- Wednesday (Great American Ball Park, 5:10 p.m.): Reds RHP Hunter Greene (4-3, 2.72 ERA) vs. Phillies TBD.
This article originally appeared on Cincinnati Enquirer: The Reds survived a 22-run, 30-hit thriller vs. the Pirates. Here's how
Category: Baseball
