3-run homers from Colin Moran, Josh Bell sink Reds in 7-2 loss to Pirates

The Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the Game

Derek Dietrich did not hit another trio of dingers against the Pittsburgh Pirates today, but he did manage to be one of the lone members of the Cincinnati Reds to really impact this game in a positive way.

Dietrich singled twice and drove in a run, and on a day when the Reds mustered a measly 7 hits and a 2 runs, that was certainly one of very few highlights.

Nick Senzel did manage to bonk a 9th inning dinger, too, his second hit of the night, and he actually pulled this one, too. That was certainly nice, and upped his season OPS over the .800 mark.

Go Reds.

Key Plays

• Both Anthony DeSclafani and Steven Brault kept their opposition stifled through the first 5 innings, but things unraveled in a hurry for Disco in the Top of the 6th. Bryan Reynolds singled to start the inning, and he moved to 3B later on Josh Bell’s chopper of a single that bounced over Derek Dietrich at 1B. Disco battled to get to 2-out in the inning, but then Colin Moran poked a meaty change-up the other way for a 356 foot dinger into the LF stands, a 3-run shot that somehow seemed inevitable. Reds trailed, 3-0.
• Speaking of unraveling, Michael Lorenzen did just that in the Top of the 7th. Josh Bell’s 3-run dinger tied a bow on it, eventually leaving the Reds down 7-0.
• Stop me if you’ve heard this before, but Eugenio Suarez was plunked on the left arm by Clay Holmes to open the Bottom of the 8th, and exited the game because of it. Safe to say he had some words for the Pirates plunker before exiting, and David Bell later had some words for the umpiring crew. Bell was tossed, Tyler Mahle came on to run for Suarez, and after a walk to Yasiel Puig, Dietrich plated Mahle with an RBI single into RF. Reds trailed, 7-1.
• Senzel’s dinger in the 9th sure was pretty, and sure did give hope that he’ll be a long-term answer for these Reds, but that was the last the offense could muster in this loss. Reds lost, 7-2.

Tony Graphanino

Other Notes

• This game started after a roughly 2 hour and 15 minute rain delay, which most certainly didn’t derail the entire day’s worth of plans for anyone. Certainly not me.
• DeSclafani’s final line: 5.2 IP, 8 H, 3 ER, BB, 3 K on 95 pitches. I’ll admit, I somewhat thought that the combination of tomorrow’s off-day and Lucas Sims being left out to dry last night meant that the bullpen would be ready at the first sign of trouble today, but that clearly wasn’t the case against the heart of the Pirates lineup their third time through the order - and that burned the Reds badly. Of course, only having one lefty reliever at his disposal probably factored into David Bell’s decision, what with Cody Reed and Zach Duke injured and Wandy Peralta back in AAA.
• The Reds are off on Thursday, but on Friday they’ll be back in action at home in GABP against the Washington Nationals. Tyler Mahle will get the start for the Reds in the series opener, while the Nats will send Patrick Corbin to the mound. First pitch Friday is set for 7:10 PM ET, which is decidedly not the 6:40 PM ET start times to which you’ve grown accustomed during the school year.
• Tunes.