Cincinnati Reds lose to Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-2

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Curt Casali blasted a dinger, a dinger that served as the whole of the Cincinnati Reds offensive production just a half-day after they were waxed by the Pittsburgh Pirates 12-1 to open the season’s second half.

Safe to say, Saturday’s game wasn’t exactly much more promising, but at least Casali - who the Reds basically bought earlier this year and has team control through 2021 - at least continued to show that he’s got a decent bit of promise as an acquisition.

That’s good.

Of course, he later got hit by a Felipe Vazquez pitch, because this is the Reds/Pirates we’re talking about. Hopefully he’s OK.

Key Plays

• Anthony DeSclafani got the start for the Reds, and he had another start that seemed pretty in-line with what we’ve seen from him so far this year: he looked excellent at time, left a few meatballs in the zone, and allowed a pair of biting dingers - both to Corey Dickerson, in this instance. Dinger one came in the Top of the 3rd, and that solo shot put the Reds behind, 1-0.
• A Josh Bell double off Disco in the top of the 4th plated Gregory Polanco, and that gave the Buccos a 2-0 advantage.
• Rain intervened once again - as it is wont to do in the Ohio River Valley this time of year. Play resumed after being interrupted in the 4th, and Disco waltzed another meatball over the plate to Dickerson in the Top of the 5th, this time for a solo dinger that put the Reds in a 3-0 hole.
• Michael Lorenzen was bitten by some bad BABIP luck in the Top of the 6th, eventually yielding a run to the Pirates on a Nick Kingham single into CF that scored Bell and Jordy Mercer. Kingham, you’ll remember, was the starter on the night for the Pirates, which burned that much worse. Reds trailed, 5-0.
• Casali’s dinger came in the Bottom of the 7th and was eventually upheld as said dinger by umpire review, and it plated Jesse Winker, who had poked a hit in front of him. Reds trailed, 5-2.
• Jared Hughes got small-balled for a run in the Top of the 8th, as he allowed a single to Bell that never left the infield, a bunt single to Sean frickin’ Rodriguez, and after a later bunt moved both runners over, a fielder’s choice brought in the Pirates 6th run of the evening. Unfortunately, that’s how things ended, and the Reds fell again, 6-2.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• Alex Blandino is out for the season with a torn ACL, which occurred in a collision at 2B in a double-digit game after a three hour rain delay on Friday night.
• Casali was apparently hit on the inside of his throwing arm, so we’ll get to wait and see how he reacts to that.
• At least that’s two fewer games the Reds have to play against Pittsburgh this season. Man, what a cruddy start to the season’s second half after the high we were on this time a week ago.
• Matt Harvey will make what could very well be his final start as a member of the Reds on Sunday in the series finale. He’ll be opposed by veteran meatballer Ivan Nova. First pitch is set for 1:10 PM ET.
• Tunes.