Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Matt Maloney.  The reliever took over for a struggling Bronson Arroyo and gave his team every opportunity to come back, pitching four shutout innings.  Honorable mentions go to Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce.

Key Plays

• Garrett Jones homered to lead off the second inning, putting the visitors ahead.  Pirates lead, 1-0.
• In the third inning, the Pirates continued to threaten.  With one out, Lyle Overbay singled, and one out later, Pedro Alvarez hit a double to move him to third.  Bronson Arroyo intentionally walked Garrett Jones to set up the force at any base, Chris Snyder singled and Overbay scored.  Pirates lead, 2-0.
• While the Reds were going their halves of the innings quickly and meekly, the Pirates were extending theirs.  With two outs in the fourth, Jose Tabata doubled and Lyle Overbay singled to chalk up an RBI.  Then Neil Walker homered, and the Buccaneers were firmly in control.  Pirates lead, 5-0.
• Matt Maloney staunched the bleeding, but Logan Ondrusek came in to pitch the ninth inning.  After walking Neil Walker and Garrett Jones around a strikeout of Pedro Alvarez, Chris Snyder once again drove in a run with a single.  Pirates lead, 6-0.
• Like he did in the playoffs, Jay Bruce came through to prevent epic failure.  With two outs in the ninth of the thirteenth game of the season, Bruce finally hit his first home run of the season.  Pirates win, 6-1.

via www.fangraphs.com

Other Notes

• Andrew McCutchen struck out four times... by the fifth inning.
• The Reds rested their middle infielder, playing Miguel Cairo and Edgar Renteria instead of Brandon Phillips.  The pair went 1-8 with an error.
• Charlie Morton pitched a complete game, just the second of his career.
• The Nationals just beat the Brewers.  Wire to wire is still in play.