COMON Network

By COMON Network Team

Final Score (Game 1) – Cincinnati Reds (22-26) 3 def. Pittsburgh Pirates (14-31) 1

WP: Raisel Iglesias (3-3)  LP: Sam Howard (2-2)  SV: N/A

Final Score (Game 2) – Cincinnati Reds (23-26) 9 def. Pittsburgh Pirates (14-32)

WP: Sal Romano (1-0)  LP: Nik Turley (0-2)  SV: N/A

As usual, the Pirates lost. What was unique about tonight was that they lost twice, losing in walk off fashion in game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ballpark, and 9-4 in the second game.  

In game one, the Reds broke the ice in the bottom of the fourth on a solo home run by Joey Votto. It remained that way until the top of the seventh, when Colin Moran tied the game with a home run. The Reds got back the run and won it, however, in the bottom half, on a two-run walk off by, of all people, Tyler Stephenson. 

In the nightcap, the Pirates drew first blood in the top of the first on a double by Moran. The Reds answered in the second on a two-run homer by Bryan Goodwin. Cincy added insurance in the bottom of the third on Votto’s second home run of the evening. The Bucs fought back, however, cutting the lead in half in the fourth on a solo shot by Josh Bell, and took the lead in the fifth on a two-run homer by rookie Ke’Bryan Hayes. That lead wouldn’t last long, however, as a three-run shot by Mike Moustakas proved to be the game winner.  

The teams play again tomorrow at 6:40.  

COMON Network Team Commentary

RYAN SIMPSON

• Tough way to lose a ballgame. Great American Ballpark continues to prove that it is an absolute LAUNCHING pad. Per Baseball-Savant, Votto’s homer was 376 feet, Moran’s was 364 feet and Stephenson’s was 390. Any flyball has a chance to get out and with supposed “juiced” baseballs, hitters do not need any more assistance.
• Bauer continued to look like an ace and front runner for the NL Cy Young. 12 punchies in 6.1 IP of work is gross. He is super fun to watch out on the mound this year and he is going to get PAID as a free agent this offseason.
• Ponce held his own in his spot start today. I am interested in where he fits into the team for next season. Wish he could have stayed in to pitch the fifth, but Sheldon continues to show that he cannot manage his pitching staff.
• Mitch Keller is going in game two and I hope he has a strong end to the season. He is the last big-name prospect from the Neal Huntington years that was supposed to lead Pittsburgh out of the basement. Hope he has a good outing in G2 for the Bucs.
• Well game two was just as painful as game one. Only 14 more games of suffering ahead. Keller struggled in his return after making his first start in over a month. I don’t know if he was on a short leash due to his injury, but only three innings of bad work is not ideal.
• The Pirates bullpen went back to their old ways after dominating for a short stretch, allowing five runs in relief tonight. Once the strongest part of the Pirates tank with the famed “Shark Tank” is now more like an ocean filled with trash. This team needs arms BADLY.
• Ke’Bryan Hayes is the only reason I am continuing to watch this team. Hits the go-ahead homer in the fifth (100.5 exit velo) to give the Pirates a chance to split the doubleheader. I know the sample size is small right now, but consider this: out of the 138 pitches Hayes has seen this year, he has only chased 28.4% of pitches. For comparison, Moran has seen 564 pitches and chased 31.7%. Hayes has pretty sound plate discipline for being a rookie eleven games into his career.

Player of the Game – Trevor Bauer (CIN) Game 1; Mike Moustakas (CIN) Game 2

JOE SMELTZER

• I wrote about it in our last commentary, but Josh Bell looks to be coming around. I’m not ready to declare him “back” yet, but his resurgence, however brief or long it turns out to be, is nice to see. 
• That game one loss was a real bummer. Despite getting to Trevor Bauer with the chance to take a seventh inning lead, the Buccos blew it. This team won’t have many chances for a big win. This would have been one.  
• Who do we want? Kumar Rocker. When do we want him? 2021.  

Player of the Game – Trevor Bauer (CIN) Game 1; Mike Moustakas (CIN) Game 2