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Robert Stephenson logs another great rookie start, Reds pound Pirates 5-2

The rookies are rolling.

By Wick Terrell
Pittsburgh Pirates v Cincinnati Reds Photo by Kirk Irwin/Getty Images

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

On the heels of Sal Romano’s excellent start on Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds got another excellent start from a rookie on Sunday. Robert Stephenson was on the bump this time, and he similarly was able to completely shut down the Pittsburgh Pirates offense in his outing.

Bob fired 6 scoreless innings of 1-hit ball, and while he scattered a trio of walks on his day, he fanned 8 and routinely pitched his way out of any potential jam, needing 93 pitches to make it deep enough to log a quality start.

Congrats, Bob, and here’s to the continued improvement.

Honorable Mentions are due to: Eugenio Suarez, who homered and walked while hitting in the #2 spot in the lineup; Scooter Gennett, who thumped his 25th homer of the season; Joey Votto, who walked twice and scored; Deck McGuire, who K’d 2 in his scoreless inning of relief; and Michael Lorenzen, who threw a perfect 9th for the save.

Key Plays

  • It took until the Bottom of the 6th for a team to hit the scoreboard, and it was the Reds who finally did so. Jesse Winker led off with a walk, and it haunted Gerrit Cole immediately when Suarez followed with a 2-run shot over the CF wall. That scenario replicated itself, too, as Votto followed with a walk and Scooter backed him with a 2-run shot of his own to chase Cole to the showers. Daniel Hudson then took over, and after Zach Vincej was plunked by a pitch, Tucker Barnhart dumped a triple into the RF corner to give the Reds a commanding 5-0 lead.
  • The Pirates finally got on the board in the Top of the 8th, as John Jaso smacked a 2-run homer off Luke Farrell. Reds led, 5-2, and that’s how things wrapped.

Tony Graphanino


Source: FanGraphs

Other Notes

  • The Reds will have a rare mid-homestand off-day on Monday, but Jackson Stephens will be on the mound Tuesday to open the Reds’ series against the St. Louis Cardinals. Jack Flaherty will start for St. Louis, with first pitch set for the customary 7:10 PM ET start.
  • Tunes.

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