The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped their first series of the year to the Cincinnati Reds, losing the deciding game by a 3-1 score on Sunday.
Pirates free agent starter Vince Velasquez made his debut, going 4.2 innings with three runs allowed. He was hurt by the long ball, which was a theme for the Pirates in Great American Ball Park. Velasquez gave up a home run to Jason Volster in the second inning to give the Reds an early 1-0 lead. His day ended with another home run in the fifth, this one to TJ Friedl, which gave the Reds their final 3-1 lead.
The Pirates got on the board with the long ball as well, getting their lone run from a Bryan Reynolds solo shot, his first of the year.
Bryan Reynolds' first of 2023! pic.twitter.com/pPFIZ9wJlB
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 2, 2023
The offense was mostly quiet, other than a double from Andrew McCutchen and two hits from Connor Joe. Both outfielders were busy in the field today with highlight reel catches.
In the bottom of the seventh, Wil Crowe got Kevin Newman to hit an easy liner to left, which was caught after a nice diving catch by Joe.
What a catch by Connor Joe!
Crowe gave up two hits, and a bunt put runners at second and third with two outs. That’s when he got help from McCutchen, who didn’t show any signs of his age with a running catch to rob Tyler Stephenson of a two RBI double– causing Stephenson to slam his helmet in the dirt in frustration after the play.
Andrew McCutchen does have a little Gold in that Glove. pic.twitter.com/EYLhzjPWqR
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) April 2, 2023
Crowe pitched two innings, and Duane Underwood Jr. added a scoreless eighth with two strikeouts. Rob Zastryzny gave up a walk and a hit before getting the final out in the fifth inning after relieving Velasquez. The bullpen kept the Pirates in the game, but the offense was quiet.
The Pirates went 0-for-8 on the day with runners in scoring position, and left six men on base. McCutchen was stranded on second after his two-out double in the sixth. Joe was stranded on second in the seventh.
The best scoring chance came in the eighth inning, when a pinch hitting Rodolfo Castro and Oneil Cruz reached on back-to-back singles that were just out of reach of Reds fielders. Bryan Reynolds lined out, before Pittsburgh native Derek Law came on to retire Andrew McCutchen and Carlos Santana.
Alexis Diaz came on to shut things down for the Reds, retiring the Pirates in order in the ninth to close out the series.
The Pirates will travel to Boston tomorrow, where Johan Oviedo takes the mound for the first game of the series at 7:10 PM EST.
