Sunday was a battle between two starters with elevated ERA’s.
Zach Thompson was able to complete five innings for the first time since July 28th. Along the way he gave up eight hits, walked three, and struck out five while giving up three earned runs. The three Cincinnati Reds’ runs were scored from a Jake Fraley solo homerun — his second HR in as many games — to lead off the game and then a Mike Moustakas 2-run homerun in the third.
The Pittsburgh Pirates had a lead momentarily after they were able to jump on Mike Minor quickly in the bottom of the first. With one out in the first, Ben Gamel got things going with an RBI single to score Bryan Reynolds, and then Rodolfo Castro hit a RBI double to left field to give the Pirates a 2-1 lead after one inning.
The Pirates maintained their lead for an inning before Moustakas hit his two-run homerun in the third inning. That stuck Thompson with the loss as the Pirates weren’t able to mount a comeback with their bullpen having a rough day.
Manny Banuelos pitched the sixth inning and gave up four earned runs. In the bottom of the inning the offense would manage to get three runs back with a two-run double from Tucupita Marcano, followed by a Jason Delay RBI single.
Colin Holderman pitched a clean seventh inning before getting the customary second inning for relievers that didn’t go well. Holderman got the first batter to pop out, but then each of the next three batters would reach on a walk, hit by pitch, and then RBI single. Cam Vieaux — recently recalled back up to Pittsburgh — replaced Holderman and would let one inherited runner score before completing the inning with the Pirates now down 9-5. The offense wasn’t able to threaten the final two innings and fall to 47-74 on the season. Two games behind the Reds for last place in the NL Central.
Rodolfo Castro had another strong game going 2-for-4 with his RBI double. He brought his season average up to .246 and his .718 OPS gives manager Derek Shelton the ability to start THREE hitters with an OPS north of .700.
Braves @ Pirates
Time: 7:05 PM EST
Pirates Starter: Roansy Contreras (3-3, 4.02)
Braves Starter: Jake Odorizzi (4-5, 4.15)
Contreras Notes: Roansy Contreras will be making his 11th MLB start of the season. There was a little over a month in between the two but Contreras has pitched six innings in each of his last two MLB starts. The final stretch of the season will be about gaining experience and maintaining health for Contreras.
LINEUPS
Pirates
New series on deck.#LetsGoBucs pic.twitter.com/dS5sYlN4hX
— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) August 22, 2022
Braves
1. Ronald Acuna Jr. (R) RF
2. Dansby Swanson (R) SS
3. Austin Riley (R) 3B
4. Matt Olson (L) 1B
5. Travis d’Arnaud (R) C
6. Eddie Rosario (L) DH
7. Vaughn Grissom (R) 2B
8. Michael Harris II (L) CF
9. Robbie Grossman (S) LF
