The Cincinnati Reds (62-67) squandered a five-point lead on Friday night and lost to the Pittsburgh Pirates (61-67) 6-5.
Here are our findings after the game:
Reds’ offense came into the game hot
Tyler Stephenson gave the Reds an early lead in the first inning with his 17th home run of the season. In the fourth inning, Ty France hit a sacrifice fly to give the Reds a 2-0 lead. Stuart Fairchild followed with a squeeze play that extended the Reds’ lead to three runs.
With two runners on base, Santiago Espinal hit a two-RBI single to give the Reds a 5-0 lead.
The Reds’ offense was unable to score any more points for the rest of the evening. Things got dangerous in the ninth inning when Will Benson started with a double to right field. Jonathan India managed a walk later in the inning, but Elly De La Cruz hit a sharp line drive to right field to end the game.
Cincinnati scored five runs on nine hits.
Bullpen started strong, but then weakened
The Reds had to use a bullpen day when Andrew Abbott was placed on the injured list on Friday afternoon.
Buck Farmer made his first start since 2019 and pitched two scoreless innings. Sam Moll and Tony Santillan followed with scoreless innings.
In the fifth inning, Reds manager David Bell called up Alan Busenitz, who had only been called up to the team on Friday. The right-hander allowed three runs on four hits in his only inning.
Justin Wilson followed Busenitz and gave up the lead, allowing two runs on three hits in just two-thirds of an inning.
Fernando Cruz pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings and Alexis Diaz added a scoreless frame.
Next
The third game between the Reds and Pirates begins on Saturday night at 6:40 p.m. ET.
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