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FINALLY, SOME ELLY DE LA NEWS REDS CALL UP TOP PROSPECT ELLY DE LA CRUZ

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DeSclafani pitches well, but Reds fall to Pirates 3-2

Cincinnati rallied late, but Pittsburgh won on a walk off home run in the ninth.

By Eric Roseberry
Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

It was a quiet night for the Cincinnati offense, but Brandon Phillips had his second straight productive game. Phillips has taken a lot of criticism from Reds fans this season over his diminished production (and the fact that he's blocking Jose Peraza from regular playing time). However, over the past two days he's shown that he can still have stretches where he's very good at the plate. Tonight Phillips went 2-3 with a walk and drove in Cincinnati's first run. It's unlikely that this recent hot streak will last very long, but it's been fun to watch Brandon be successful at the plate over the past two days.

Honorable Mentions: Anthony DeSclafani put together another solid start (6 IP, 2 H, 2 ER, 3 BB, 6 SO); Eugenio Suarez was 0-3, but drew a walk in the ninth that led to Cincinnati's second run; Joey Votto went 1-3 with a walk; Billy Hamilton was 1-4 and stole another base.

Key Plays

  • The Reds wasted little time getting a run on the board in this one. Zack Cozart and Joey Votto supplied back to back singles in the first. With two outs, Brandon Phillips singled in to right to drive home Cozart.
  • From the second through the fourth inning basically nothing of note happened. The Reds did get two hitters on in the second (a Barnhart double and Hamilton walk), but they were both stranded.
  • Billy Hamilton singled and a stole a base in the top of the fifth, but the Reds were unable to capitalize.
  • The Pirates finally pushed a run across in the bottom of the fifth. David Freese led off the inning with a walk. John Jaso then hit a ball deep into center field. At first glance it look liked Billy Hamilton made an incredible catch at the wall, but on review the call was overturned (video below). The Pirates had runners on second and third with nobody out, and Francisco Cervelli drove home Freese on a sac fly. Pittsburgh's next hitter, Jordy Mercer, gave the Pirates the lead with a sac bunt.
  • Michael Lorenzen came in to pitch in the seventh for Cincinnati. He gave up singles to David Freese and Francisco Cervelli, but Cincinnati kept Pittsburgh from stretching their lead.
  • The Reds tried to get a rally going in the top of the 8th. Joey Votto drew a walk off of Neftali Feliz. Votto was thrown out at second on an Adam Duvall grounder, but the Pirates were unable to turn the double play. Brandon Phillips also drew a walk to give Cincinnati runners on first and second with two outs. However, Scott Schebler struck out to end the inning.
  • The Pirates almost added another run in the bottom of the eighth. Blake Wood surrendered a single to Starling Marte. Marte then stole second and advanced to third on a throwing error by Tucker Barnhart. Wood intentionally walked pinch hitter Gregory Polanco to give Pittsburgh runners on the corners with two outs. However, the Reds were able to keep the Pirates from scoring runs yet again.
  • Eugenio Suarez led off the ninth with a walk to give the Reds life against Tony Watson. Barnhart moved Suarez to second with a sacrifice bunt. Suarez then stole third with Ramon Cabrera at the plate (pinch hitting for Blake Wood). Cabrera was out on a fly ball to left, but it was deep enough to score Suarez and tie the game!
  • Ross Ohlendorf came on for the Reds in the ninth. He faced one hitter (Sean Rodriguez). That batter promptly smashed a walk off home run.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

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