CINCINNATI -- Great American Ball Park is a great place to hit home runs. Fortunately for the Pirates, they were the ones who teed off in Monday's series opener against the Reds.
The Pirates defeated the Reds by a score of 6-3, driving in all six of their runs via the long ball.
Bryan Reynolds got everything started in a hurry, jumping on a fastball from Mike Minor and planting it in the upper deck in left field to give the Pirates an early 1-0 lead:
As mentioned during the broadcast, the Pirates had hit Minor hard in his two previous starts against them (12 total innings, nine earned runs). Minor is a guy who doesn't throw high velocity, but has found success with a four-seam fastball that has a high spin rate. He's also a guy that earned Cy Young votes not that long ago as a member of the Rangers in 2019.
"That was the third time we faced him this year," Reynolds said. "So we knew his fastball plays up. We were focusing on that before the game. I think [Andy] Haines got everybody ready and we executed well."
The Pirates needed more execution later on. The Reds took the lead with a two-run homer of their own in the fourth, but the Pirates immediately responded with two swings that made all the difference they needed.
Kevin Newman and Reynolds led off the fifth with two hard-hit singles off Minor to give them runners on first and second with nobody out. For a Pirates team that has struggled so much with runners in scoring position, somebody needed to come through and get a timely hit.
The wait for that hit was very short as Rodolfo Castro launched a hanging changeup high into the air that barely cleared the fence in left field:
After Ke'Bryan Hayes reached on an error, it looked as if the Castro homer would be all the Pirates get in the inning when Michael Chavis popped out and Jack Suwinski lined out.
However, after being recalled earlier in the day from Class AAA Indianapolis, Diego Castillo pounced on a slider breaking down and in and lined it over the wall to extend a lead the Pirates would never surrender:
There are only 22 games remaining. The final game of the season is three weeks from Wednesday. There's been fair criticism of those in Pirates leadership that are preaching progress during a season that is on course to finish with 100 losses. Again.
At this point, there's only one way to silence the critics: Start producing results on the field and, most important, in the win column.
I asked Derek Shelton about having a strong finish prior to Monday's game, and he acknowledged a lack of results may need to force some changes.
"The big thing is, the things that we've been working on, to continue to translate into games," Shelton said prior to Monday's game. "The one great thing is we have opportunities over the next three weeks to be able to watch guys perform at the major-league level. And with the way our schedule is, we'll be watching them perform against really good either pitching or hitting.
"Because of that, we can see if the things we're working on are translating or if we need to adjust."
There's the kicker. If the season spirals out of control, adjustments will surely need to be made.
But, if Oneil Cruz continues to produce results, if Castro keeps hitting, if Castillo comes up and shows his time in Indianapolis was put to good use, if the Pirates win more games than they lose against teams like the Reds -- if all of those things and more happen, they stand a better chance of winning more games, regardless of the opponent.
And, isn't winning the ultimate goal anyway?
MORE FROM THE GAME
• In addition to the long ball, the Pirates were rather aggressive on the basepaths. Pittsburgh stole four bases, with Hayes snagging half of them. One of Hayes', along with one by Suwinski, were steals of third base as well.
The home run was obviously the biggest factor in the game, but Shelton unsolicitedly brought up the stolen bases after the game.
"We had good at-bats throughout the whole night," Shelton said. "We were really aggressive on the bases with the steals. Overall, I think we played well offensively."
The Pirates weren't able to benefit much from the aggression on the basepaths, as the lineup went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position. However, with the Pirates entering Monday's action below league average in steals, being able to be that aggressive and executing those steals are what has been lacking throughout the season.
• The quest for more rotation candidates continues, and Monday was Bryse Wilson's turn once again. Wilson answered the challenge with a solid performance, allowing three runs on seven hits with two walks and four strikeouts in 5 2/3 innings.
Wilson was efficient early on, and kept the Reds at bay through the first three innings to preserve the early lead provided by Reynolds' homer. Aristides Aquino broke through for Cincinnati with a two-run homer to give the Reds the lead. After Castro and Castillo gave Pittsburgh the lead back, along with some breathing room, Wilson was able to calm things down.
"It’s huge. It gives you a lot more confidence to be able to go out there and go after their hitters. Especially when it is six runs like that," Wilson said. "It’s really nice. Takes a lot of stress off."
Even before the big lead, Wilson was able to execute both his four-seamer and two-seamer, which is typically what happens when he is successful. But despite the early efficiency, he was unable to get through six innings and earn the quality start. Shelton wanted to try and allow him to finish, but a four-pitch walk while the Reds were threatening forced the skipper's hand.
In order for Wilson to really take that next step, consistency is the main goal. But, pitching deeper into games is another key part of it.
"I think that all goes back to the execution and the command," Wilson said. "Just refining the mechanics and being able to execute pitch after pitch allows me to go out and have quick at-bats and quick innings and keep my pitch count down."
• Robert Stephenson is the one who relieved Wilson, and he did a phenomenal job out of the bullpen. Stephenson pitched 1 1/3 innings and struck out three of the four batters he faced. Not only was he pumping in 98 mph, but he was especially nasty with the slider.
Reds hitters swung and missed on six out of the 10 sliders Stephenson threw.
"The slider was good," Shelton said. "The last two or three times he's pitched, he's really done a nice job with the slider."
• Prior to Monday, Wil Crowe had given up three earned runs in two of his previous four outings. The most recent came during Saturday's 7-5 loss to the Cardinals. So, when Crowe came out to pitch the eighth inning, there was a prime opportunity to put it behind him.
Protecting a 6-3 lead, Crowe got off to a good start by getting two quick outs, but he walked a batter and gave up a single to give the Reds a chance to bat with the tying run at the plate. Crowe was able to tightrope out of the inning, getting Alejo Lopez to ground out to end the inning.
Shelton opted to go with Crowe again in the ninth, and it looked really shaky after he walked Nick Senzel and gave up a single by Donovan Solano to lead off the inning. Shelton stuck with Crowe, and the right-hander came through by striking out Jonathan India, then retired TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer to wrap up the six-out save.
As far as the decision to keep him out there in the ninth inning ...
"With where we were at in the order," Shelton explained, "with Friedl and the fact that he had hit Solano and India in that inning, and we knew with Steer and Farmer behind him, that we had confidence in his ability. He scattered the ball a little bit, but was able to finish it off. That's a good spot for him."
• With Stephenson and Crowe combining for 3 1/3 scoreless innings, the Pirates' bullpen held their opponent scoreless for the first time in 11 games.
• With the win, the Pirates improve to 52-88. With only 22 games remaining, the Pirates need to finish 11-11 in order to avoid a 100-loss season.
THE ESSENTIALS
THE HIGHLIGHTS
THE INJURIES
• 15-day injured list: RHP David Bednar (back), LHP Dillon Peters (left elbow)
• 60-day injured list: RHP Yerry De Los Santos (lat), OF Canaan Njigba-Smith (wrist), RHP Colin Holderman (right shoulder), RHP Blake Cederlind (elbow), RHP Max Kranick (elbow), C Roberto Pérez (hamstring)
THE LINEUPS
Shelton's card:
1. Kevin Newman, SS
2. Bryan Reynolds, CF
3. Rodolfo Castro, 2B
4. Ke'Bryan Hayes, 3B
5. Michael Chavis, 1B
6. Jack Suwinski, RF
7. Diego Castillo, DH
8. Greg Allen, LF
9. Jason Delay, C
And for David Bell's Reds:
1. TJ Friedl, LF
2. Spencer Steer, 1B
3. Kyle Farmer, 3B
4. Jake Fraley, DH
5. Aristides Aquino, RF
6. Alejo Lopez, 2B
7. Nick Senzel, CF
8. Jose Barrero, SS
9. Chuckie Robinson, C
THE SCHEDULE
The same two teams continue the series with a split doubleheader Tuesday. Johan Oviedo (2-2, 3.90) will take the ball for the Pirates in Game 1, and Luis Ortiz will make his major-league debut as the starter for Game 2. I've got you covered from Cincinnati.
THE CONTENT
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