Don Robinson lasted only an inning and a third as the Pirates lost to the Reds in Cincinnati, 6-2. The defeat was their third straight. They’re now in a three-way tie for third, seven and a half games behind Montreal. That’s the furthest they’ve been from first since May 18.
Robinson retired the first two batters he faced in the bottom of the first, but things unraveled quickly after that. He walked the next two batters, then gave up RBI singles to Ray Knight and Cesar Geronimo. In the second, Robinson walked two more and gave up an infield hit to load the bases with one out. A two-run single by Joe Morgan brought on Dave Roberts in relief. He gave up a sacrifice fly to make it 5-0.
The Pirates got a little back in the top of the third, when Omar Moreno led off against Paul Moskau with his fifth home run. They got another in the fourth when Phil Garner tripled in Ed Ott with one out. Mike Easler batted for Roberts, but couldn’t get the run in, as Garner was thrown out when Easler grounded to short.
Jim Bibby and Enrique Romo followed with a pair of scoreless innings each, but Romo gave up a run in his third inning on a two-out double and single.
The Pirates did little against Moskau after the fourth and he went the distance. Bill Robinson was stranded after a leadoff double in the sixth. John Milner had a pinch-hit triple in the ninth, but he also was left on.
For the game, the Pirates went 0-for-12 with runners in scoring position. Robinson dropped to 5-5.
