After spending the last couple months taking a beating, the Pittsburgh Pirates had a chance to sweep the Cincinnati Reds and take a four game winning streak on the road to New York.
Roansy Contreras started the finale and had a strong (yet short) day. Over four innings, Contreras held the Reds to one run while collecting three strike outs. He allowed three hits with 34 of his 55 pitches going for strikes. He could have collected his sixth victory but was pulled after the fourth with a 3-1 lead intact.
The offense had a field day on Wednesday. Ke’Bryan Hayes finished the day 3-for-5 with a double and RBI. Rodolfo Castro went 2-for-5 with his 9th HR and four RBI’s, for 20 on the season. Oneil Cruz had four K’s, but also made sure to leave Cincy with his 15th HR when he hit a two-run shot in the 8th.
Overall the Pirates managed to score 10 runs.
Tyler Beede and Miguel Yajure covered the final five innings.
Beede gave up a solo HR in the 5th inning and finished two innings with three hits, a strike out, and the one earned run.
Yajure threw the final three innings with two hits, a walk, two earned runs and two strike outs.
The Pirates completed the four game sweep by handing the Reds a 10-4 loss.
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After sweeping the Reds, the Pirates head to New York City for a week.
To start the road trip the Pirates will visit the New York Mets for four games. The Mets are currently the midst of a battle with the Atlanta Braves for the NL East division title.
Max Scherzer made a rehab start for Triple-A affiliate Syracuse Mets on Wednesday, so it’s unlikely the Pirates will have to see him this weekend. But then again, he’s Max Scherzer and it’d be the Pirates luck they activate him for Sunday.
Maybe the Pirates can ride the momentum from the Reds series and help knock the Mets out of the division lead.
Pirates @ Mets
Time: 7:20 PM EST
Pirates Starter: JT Brubaker (3-11, 4.36)
Mets Starter: Carlos Carrasco (14-6, 3.80)
Brubaker Notes: In his previous start against the St. Louis Cardinals, JT Brubaker tossed six innings while allowing three earned runs. Brubaker opened the year with a rough first month that saw a 6.20 ERA through his first 20.1 IP. Since then he has a 4.04 ERA over 118.0 IP. He has a 3.75 FIP and 3.69 xFIP over those 118.0 IP, with a 3.90 FIP and 3.87 xFIP for the full season.
UPDATE: Beede/Peters gone, Stout back
LINEUPS:
Pirates
Our #ClementeDay lineup. pic.twitter.com/pLUvHtZbmD
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) September 15, 2022
Mets
Tonight’s starters. #LGM
