Pirates Postgame Commentary: September 16 vs Reds

By COMON Network Team
Final Score – Cincinnati Reds (25-26) 1 def. Pittsburgh Pirates (14-34) 0
WP: Luis Castillo (3-5) LP: JT Brubaker (1-2) SV: Raisel Iglesias (8)
The Pirates lost again, this time in a 1-0 pitcher’s dual at Great American Ballpark.
A fifth inning single by Shogo Akiyama was all the offense Reds starter Luis Castillo would need. Castillo picked up his third win, striking out 10 pirates and allowing just three hits over seven scoreless. Pirates started JT Brubaker pitched well over 5.1, but allowed one run too many.
The Pirates are back home tomorrow night, looking to break their eight-game losing streak as they take on the St. Louis Cardinals. First pitch is at 7:05.
COMON Network Team Commentary
JOE SMELTZER
- This team sucks.
- JT Brubaker doesn’t, though. The young starter has been a rare bright spot for the Pirates in 2020, and pitched well enough to win today. Unfortunately, he has one of the worst Pirates offenses in history behind him.
- You know, this bullpen isn’t too bad. I like to end on a positive note.
Player of the Game – Luis Castillo (CIN)
RYAN SIMPSON
- I really like Brubaker. I said this few starts back, but he has done a great job of becoming a starter on this injury riddled team. Yes, his ERA is a tad high at 4.79, but he has only given up more than 3 runs in a start one time all year. This is his fourth consecutive start of five innings. I did not know who Brubaker was coming into this year and now I am looking forward to seeing him in 2021.
- Howard, Stratton and Turley pitched great tonight and yet the bats left them out to dry. The Pirates last hit was in the fourth and their last base runner was in the seventh. Entering tonight’s game, the Pirates had the worst OPS in the MLB at .626, they are now 6-11 in one-run games and losers of their last eight.
- I cannot stress to you enough how bad this team is day in and day out.
Player of the Game – Luis Castillo (CIN)