Pirates Hold On To Fourth Place Split Series With Reds.

The Pittsburgh Pirates held onto their grip on fourth place in the National League Central, defeating the Reds 7-2.  It prevented the Reds from moving into a tie with Pirates and stopped the Reds' bid to move within two games of .500 for the first time since they were 1-3 on April 2nd.

Anthony DeSclafani of the Reds and Steven Brault of the Pittsburgh Pirates hooked up in a pitcher's duel in the final game of this four-game series before three-run home runs by  Colin Moran and Josh Bell ended the hope of the Reds' hope to move up.

DeSclafani allowed six baserunners in six innings.  Brault retired the first nine Reds' batters in order before Nick Senzel led off the fourth inning with a single.

The Pirates broke a scoreless deadlock in the sixth.  Bryan Reynolds opened the inning with a single. After Starling Marte struck out, Josh Bell singled to put runners at first and third.  Melky Cabrera flied out to Senzel in shallow center without movement from Reynolds.  It appeared that DeSclafani would get out of the jam but Colin Moran hit his fifth home run of the season to the opposite field with the ball landing three rows deep in the left field stands.  Elias Diaz single brought an end to DeSclafani's day.  Michael Lorenzen got the final out of the sixth inning.

"They had the line drive single," DeSclafani said.  "I was getting outs with my change up.  I made a good pitch to get Carbrera out.  Bell hit a one hopper that bounced over Dietrich's had.  I'll take that every time; a ground ball at the first baseman.  The pitch to Moran was on the black.  He just put a good swing on it."

Eugenio Suarez walked to open the bottom of the inning.  Jose Iglesias flied out deep to center.  Pirates manager Clint Hurdle opted to relieve Brault.  Rich Rodriguez came in to pitch to Yasiel Puig.
Puig struck out swinging.  Derek Dietrich, who has seven home runs against the Pirates in nine games, faced another reliever in Francisco Liriano.  Dietrich dumped a single into left center to bring Curt Casali to the plate, representing the tying run.   He flied out to squash the threat.

Cole Tucker doubled and Reynolds singled to add a fourth run. Bell broke the game wide open with a three-run home run off Lorenzen.  It was his 18th.

Clay Holmes hit Suarez with a pitch leading off the eighth inning.  Suarez left the game for a pinch runner, Tyler Mahle.  David Bell earned his fourth ejection of the season when Crew Chief Jeff Nelson threw him out.

Puig walked and Dietrich singled to drive in the first run of the game for the Reds.  Senzel hit his fourth home run in the ninth.