COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score (Game 1) – Cincinnati Reds (17-21) 4 def. Pittsburgh Pirates (11-25) 2

WP: Luis Castillo (1-5) LP: Steven Brault (0-2) SV: Raisel Iglesias (5)

Final Score (Game 2) – Pittsburgh Pirates (12-25) 4 def. Cincinnati Reds (17-22) 3

WP: Sam Howard (2-1) LP: Trevor Bauer (3-3) SV: Richard Rodriguez (3)

The Pirates and Reds split the doubleheader at PNC Park Friday to open the weekend, four-game series between the clubs. The Reds took game one 4-2 before the Pirates won the nightcap 4-3.

In game one, Cincinnati scored the first three runs. Jose Garcia singled home the first run of the game in the second inning. In the third, Eugenio Suarez lifted a sacrifice fly and Jesse Winker singled home a run. In the home third, Colin Moran singled home Erik Gonzalez. Gregory Polanco then plated a run with an adverse bounce to the Bucs, as a book-rule double plated Bryan Reynolds, and would’ve scored Moran had it not bounced into the seats by the notch. Nick Castellanos hit a solo shot in the fifth that brought game one to its final of 4-2.

With the Pirates serving as the road team in game two of the twinbill, it was still the Reds that scored first. Against Cody Ponce in the home first at PNC Park, Saurez hit a two-run homer. The score stayed 2-0 until the fourth when Anthony Alford’s triple brought home a pair of runs. He’d later score on a wild pitch that just escaped the home-plate circle. Mike Moustakas hit a solo shot to tie things at 3 in the bottom half of the same inning, then Bryan Reynolds’ double-play ball made the difference.

The two teams take the field for a 7:05 p.m. contest tomorrow on the North Shore.

COMON Network Team Commentary

KYLE DAWSON

• Unlucky bounce for the Bucs in game one on Polanco’s book-rule double. Here we are right? If that ball bounces a couple inches different, the game is tied at 3-3 and the complexion changes completely. It was a good game for Polanco though. Last night I said I refused to comment on two-straight two-hit days but then Polanco picked up a third in a row today in game one, with a couple of doubles. He added 20.9 win probability. Good game for him.
• During game one, Steven Brault wasn’t brutal. The Baseball Savant feed had five hard-hit balls off him, but he K’d six in 4.2 innings. I still want to see him attack the zone more and be aggressive against these hitters. He was fine in terms of being in the zone, but it could’ve been better.
• Man the Pirates made Trevor Bauer look human a bit tonight. He has been ridiculous against right-handed hitters this season and the Bucs managed nearly a handful of hits with righties at the dish and lefties fared well enough to get the job done too. That’s gritty work against one of the best in the game right now by the Bucs. Forget that only one run was earned. That helps Bauer, but still.
• How about Sam Howard, Chris Stratton, Nik Turley and Richard Rodriguez tonight? That was another really solid night in game two for the Pirates’ pen. This game was going to have to be close to win it, and besides the two pitches that resulted in the home runs, even Cody Ponce was solid.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes was electric at the plate in game two. The triple was roped and he picked up a single. That’s a 23-year old, talk about what the Bucs did against Bauer, collecting two hits after two solid trips to the plate. Don’t forget the huge two-run triple by Anthony Alford either. Huge hit for one of the newest Pirates.
• Josh Bell, man… He’s almost a one-loss player this year.

Player of the Game – Nick Castellanos (CIN) Game 1, Ke’Bryan Hayes and Anthony Alford (PIT) Game 2

DONNY CHEDRICK

• Win some, lose some. The Bucs hosted the Reds for a seven inning double header on Friday. Cincy took game one, 4-2, but Pittsburgh responded with a W in the night cap, 4-3. Certainly nice to split instead of getting swept. 7:05 tomorrow versus the Reds at PNC Park.
• Bucs get to Bauer. The Pirates didn’t dominate game two, but they did enough against one of the Reds’ best arms to get the win. After Luis Castillo went six of the seven innings in game one, the Bucs prevented Bauer from taking over the second one.
• Hayes continues to impress. We knew his defense would be good, but his bat is impressing the viewers as well. Hayes went 3-5 in the two games Friday, including a triple and is now 5-14 at the dish, a .357 average. Small sample size, but the kid is getting it done on both ends. Keep him in the lineup. Not only does it please the fans, it might add to higher numbers in the win column.

Player of the Game – Nick Castellanos (CIN) Game 1, Ke’Bryan Hayes (PIT) Game 2