Pirates Pound The Trade Value From Matt Harvey

If Sunday's start was intended to be a showcase for Matt Harvey's trade value, the right-hander will be with the Reds a long time.  Harvey is considered to expensive for the Reds to keep.  He heads a six-man rotation until the trade deadline on July 31.

The Pittsburgh Pirates put six runs on the board before the likes of  Thom Brennaman could say, "Allegheny and Monongahela" possibly before he could say "confluence".

Corey Dickerson did not lead off the game with his a home run for the fourth straight game.  This time he laced a double down the left field line.  Starling Marte bunted Dickerson to third which made it a short trot when Gregory Polanco poled his 17th home run to the bleachers in right field.

The 9-2 win gave the Pirates a nine game winning streak as well as a series sweep.  The Reds lost four straight for the first time since June 2 thru June 6.

"I assume he was missing his spots.  His velocity was good.  It was a hot club," Jim Riggleman said.

http://www.wiedemannbeer.com/

Ivan Nova quickly dispatched the Reds in the bottom of the first faster than I could look up how to spell Allegheny and Monongahela, the Pirates were back at Harvey in the second stanza.

Josh Bell, who was 4-for-4 on Saturday grounded out but Sean Rodriguez hit a double to right.  Max Moroff singled to drive in the run.  Nova bunted too hard to Joey Votto but Votto's attempt to start a double play went sour when his throw to second was high.  Peraza was able to get Nova with a relay to first.  The throw though not ruled and error cost the Reds' three runs.  Dickerson's 11th home run did indeed give him a home run in five straight games and four for the current three-game series.  Marte belted his 15th home run extending his hitting streak to a league best 15 games.  The score stood at 6-0 after two innings.

http://donatelifeohio.org/

After a quiet third, Sean Rodriguez launched his fifth home run, leading off the fourth.  Dickerson's third hit a single got Harvey an early shower.  Jackson Stephens was greeted by a single from Marte. Polanco singled to close the book on Harvey with the Pirates' eighth run.

"That's baseball," Harvey said.  "I've gone a long time without giving up a home run.  Unfortunately as good as I was, part of baseball is running into hot bats.  When you don't execute pitches and leave stuff over the middle of the plate, a hot team is going to make you pay..  I went back and looked at the tape.  The slider wasn't doing a whole lot and the fastball was coming back over the plate."

Since June 8, Harvey pitched 34 innings over five starts without allowing a home run.

Evan Nova got into the act with a single off the center field fence, which snapped on 0-for-63 lifelong slump.  Dickerson came up two bases short of the required triple for the cycle but his fourth hit of the game moved Nova along.   Nova trotted home on a double by Elias Diaz.

The Reds scored in their favorite inning, the seventh, Jesse Winker walked.  Adam Duvall doubled with two outs.  Phillip Ervin dumped a two-run single into center to score them both.  Michael Feliz relieved Nova.  Feliz retired pinch hitter Brandon Dixon on a fly to the warning track in center field.

The Pirates last swept the Reds on the last series of the 2013 season that determined the home venue for the playoff game between the two teams as wild cards.

The Reds managed just five runs in the three game series.

"They certainly pitched well," Riggleman said.  "We came out of the break not firing on all cylinders.  It is disappointing but there will be times in a 162 games where your're not firing on all cylinders  We have to push the reset button and get started tomorrow."

Dickerson has been a Reds' nemesis with four home runs in the series which gives him 10 for his career against the Reds. He has now hit five against the Reds this year.

"Between Dickerson and Thames they have been Reds' killers," Riggleman said.  "We have to find a way to keep the ball in the ballpark, get the ball on the ground."

The subplot concerns the shadow of trade rumors concerning Harvey.

"I'm not talking about going to a different team and what not," Harvey said.  "My goal is to pitch every fifth day for this team.  I'm healthy and I'm throwing the ball pretty well.  Today was a rough one. There's work to be done that this doesn't happen again."

"It''s been awesome here.  Until today, it's been successful.  I have to flush this one and get back after it. I've learned that where ever you want to be or what you want to do this is a business.  Whatever is decided, my job is to go out and compete."