Too much Leake for the Pirate ship tonight, Reds win 5-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Marlon Byrd. The Byrdman went 2-for-4 with a home run and 3 RBI.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Tucker Barnhart, who went 3-for-4, Mike Leake for his masterful pitching performance, and Billy Hamilton, who stole 2 bases and created the Reds' first run.

Key Plays

• For the second night in a row, the Reds got to the Pirates starter early. Billy Hamilton celebrated his return to the leadoff spot by walking and stealing 2nd and 3rd, and Todd Frazier doubled to bring him in. Jay Bruce followed it with a double of his own, and Marlon Byrd smashed the first pitch he saw over the center field wall. 4-0 Reds.
• After rolling through the first, Mike Leake got himself into a jam in the 2nd. Pedro Alvarez drove in a run on a groundout. 4-1 Reds.
• The Reds actually chased Gerrit Cole in the 5th, after Joey and Jay both got on to allow Marlon Byrd to drive the run in. You think he's happy to be back at PNC with another team? That made it 5-1 Reds.
  
• Alvarez and Jordy Mercer both got on in the bottom of the inning, though, and Chris Stewart grounded into a forceout to score a run for the Bucs. Jung Ho Kang then singled, but Leake was able to get Gregory Polanco and Starling Marte to make outs to get out of the jam. Phew. 5-2.
• Leake found a little bit more trouble in the 7th, when Stewart got on, Kang replaced him at first on a force play, and Polanco singled to left to make it runners at 2nd and 3rd as Polanco advanced on Byrd's nowhere close throw. Suarez's throw to try and nap Polanco was close enough for the Reds to challenge it, but the call stood, despite being pretty close. Leake struck out Marte to get out of it. Reds remain up 5-2.
• The Reds mounted a small rally in the 8th with Eugenio Suarez and Tucker Barnhart getting on, but pinch hitter Skip Schumaker grounded into a double play to kill the rally, because of course he did. 5-2.
  
• Aroldis Chapman is still on paternity leave, so J.J. Hoover came in to get the save and produced a 1-2-3 inning. Reds win!