Derek Dietrich continues to torment the Pittsburgh Pirates. For the second time this season Dietrich cobbled together a multi-home run game against the Pirates. This time a three-home run effort that eclipsed his former career high of 17 home runs. He powered the Reds to a 11-6 win that featured a brilliant outing by Lucas Sims, who was called up to make this start, becoming the sixth pitcher to start a game for the Reds.
You can bet Pirates' manager Clint Hurdle won't have Derek and the Dominoes on his play list.
Scooter Gennett acted unimpressed, "Anybody can hit three Derek."
Gennett, of course, hit four in a game against the St. Louis Cardinals in 2017.
"I thought Scooter was going to turn the lights out if I came up again," Diertrich shot back. "I was thrilled for Lucas as much as I was for myself."
Sims had two quick scoreless innings against Pittsburgh, when Jose Iglesias hit a triple with one out in the second inning. Tucker Barnhart drove in the run with a high chop ground ball to Pirates starter Jordan Lyles.
Dietrich, who signed with the Reds after the start of spring training along with Iglesias, hit his 15th home run in the fourth off Lyles. Eugenio Suarez doubled in front of the blast. In the sixth Nick Senzel and Jesse Winker hit back-to-back doubles off Geoff Hartlieb that tied Dietrichs career high with his 16th home run. Dietrich hit 16 last year in 149 games. Tuesday is the 52 game, that Dietrich has played for the Reds. He victimized Hartlieb again in the seventh, following a walk to Suarez.
"I really like it here," said Dietrich a Cleveland native, who's parents were in the stands. "They let me be myself. They believe in me and gave me the opportunity."
The Reds signed Iglesias and Dietrich without a promise for playing time but Scooter Gennett injured his groin a week before the season Jose Peraza was the planned starting shortstop, while Dietrich and Iglesias were set to come off the bench. Once they came off, they established themselves.
"We signed Derek knowing he could move around," said Bell of Dietrich's ability to play third, second, first and the corner outfields.
"He's tough and he competes," Bell said.
Joey Votto had some discomfort in his hamstring and sat out the game as a precaution to put Dietrich at first base. Jose Peraza started at second base.
Barnhart singled to plate Yasiel Puig and Iglesias to give the Reds an 8-0 lead.
Sims was called up this morning as Wandy Peralta was optioned to Louisville and Cody Reed was placed on the seven-day injured list in Louisville as the 26th man allowed for a doubleheader played on Monday. Reed popped his ACL while turning in two scoreless innings in the second game.
Sims pitched around a single in the first, a double in the fifth and a double in the seventh to post seven scoreless innings and strikeouts with nine. Sims made nine starts in 2017 for the Atlanta Braves and had a 3-6 record. He was 3-0 with Louisville.
"My game plan was to come in and be aggressive, throw strikes and get quick outs," Sims said. "It felt really good. It helped getting those runs. I feel like I can execute pitches better when I work fast."
"He is on the verge of making it to the Major Leagues," David Bell said before the game. "I can't say enough about his attitude. He walked into the building today like he was going to do what he did."
Dietrich homered against the Pirates on Opening Day as a pinch hitter. He started an April 7 game in Pittsburgh where he admired a long blast he hit off Chris Archer. Archer threw behind him in his next trip to the plate. It started a bench clearing brawl that got manager David Bell and Puig ejected. Dietrich added a home run for good measure later in the game. Dietrich homered and admired another blast in the second game of Monday's double header. His three home runs this game put his total to seven against Pittsburgh.
Sims allowed singles to Bryan Reynolds and Elias Diaz to start the eighth. Bell visited the mound but left the right-hander in the game. He coaxed a fly ball to left from Cole Tucker. Sims hit Jose Osuna with a pitch to load the bases. Kevin Newman spoiled the shutout with his first Major League home run; a grand slam.
Bell took the ball from Sims and gave it to Robert Stephenson.
"I was disappointed that I didn't finish," Sims said. "The long innings got me out of sync a little bit but I'd rather have the runs."
Sims got the win with 7-1/3, allowing four runs on six hits, a walk and a hit batter. He established a career high with the innings pitched, as well as nine strikeouts. More than anything, Sims gave the bullpen a huge lift. He threw just 100 pitches and 68 were strikes.
"I wish I could have taken out of the game before he gave up the home run," Bell said. "It doesn't take away from what he did for us but he could have easily got out of the game with no runs scoring."
Jose Peraza got one of the runs back with his fifth home run against former Reds' prospect Rookie Davis.
Stephenson finished the Pirates off in the ninth but the Pirates scored two on a double by Diaz.
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