The Pirates didn’t need to chase pitches to bury the Reds -- they simply let Cincinnati’s staff unravel. In a game defined by missed locations and mounting traffic, Pittsburgh weaponized patience, turning walk after walk into a runaway win, 17-7, this afternoon at PNC Park.
The defining moment came in the second inning, when Reds pitchers issued seven consecutive walks, tying an MLB record for a single-inning streak. The last time it had occurred was May 25, 1983, only that time it was the Pirates' Jim Bibby and Jim Winn issuing the free passes against the Braves.
The inning started as a nuisance for Cincinnati and quickly became a crisis: the Pirates kept the line moving without a ball leaving the infield, forcing two pitching changes and turning the batter’s box into a test of who could stay calm the longest. By the time the dust settled, the Reds had handed over four runs on bases-loaded walks alone.
"I think sticking to the plan, being stingy to the plan, focus on your approach. If the other team's throwing balls, stay out of their way," said Ryan O'Hearn. "A walk is as good as a hit. You get a couple guys on base, somebody gets a big hit and the offense is rolling. It's always fun. The dugout gets rowdy. Everyone's locked in. Fun to put a lot of points on the board. Hopefully we just keep this mojo going.
What made the rout even more complete was how every hitter in the Pirates’ starting lineup drove in at least one run. It wasn’t a one-man show or a single big swing that decided it; it was constant pressure, one plate appearance after another, with Pittsburgh cashing in every time Cincinnati offered a free pass or a mistake over the plate.
The Pirates collected 19 hits and 11 walks, O'Hearn on which was more impressive: "Both are impressive. If you take your walks it means you're seeing it good and you're making good swing decisions," said O'Hearn. "If you can do that as an offense, when everybody can do that, it makes it really tough on the other team."
THE ASYLUM
Record for walks leads to rout of Reds
The Pirates didn’t need to chase pitches to bury the Reds -- they simply let Cincinnati’s staff unravel. In a game defined by missed locations and mounting traffic, Pittsburgh weaponized patience, turning walk after walk into a runaway win, 17-7, this afternoon at PNC Park.
The defining moment came in the second inning, when Reds pitchers issued seven consecutive walks, tying an MLB record for a single-inning streak. The last time it had occurred was May 25, 1983, only that time it was the Pirates' Jim Bibby and Jim Winn issuing the free passes against the Braves.
The inning started as a nuisance for Cincinnati and quickly became a crisis: the Pirates kept the line moving without a ball leaving the infield, forcing two pitching changes and turning the batter’s box into a test of who could stay calm the longest. By the time the dust settled, the Reds had handed over four runs on bases-loaded walks alone.
"I think sticking to the plan, being stingy to the plan, focus on your approach. If the other team's throwing balls, stay out of their way," said Ryan O'Hearn. "A walk is as good as a hit. You get a couple guys on base, somebody gets a big hit and the offense is rolling. It's always fun. The dugout gets rowdy. Everyone's locked in. Fun to put a lot of points on the board. Hopefully we just keep this mojo going.
What made the rout even more complete was how every hitter in the Pirates’ starting lineup drove in at least one run. It wasn’t a one-man show or a single big swing that decided it; it was constant pressure, one plate appearance after another, with Pittsburgh cashing in every time Cincinnati offered a free pass or a mistake over the plate.
The Pirates collected 19 hits and 11 walks, O'Hearn on which was more impressive: "Both are impressive. If you take your walks it means you're seeing it good and you're making good swing decisions," said O'Hearn. "If you can do that as an offense, when everybody can do that, it makes it really tough on the other team."
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