Joey Votto And Tyler Stephenson Capture Pirates

 

Joey Votto's opposite field home run in the fourth inning and Tyler Stephenson's first career pinch hit home run gave the Reds a 3-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the first game of a Covid induced doubleheader at Great American Ball Park.

A home run by Colin Moran, the second hit of the game off Trevor Bauer tied the game in the seventh inning.  With two outs, rookie shortstop singled off Sam Howard for his second hit of the game.  David Bell celebrating his 48th birthday took down Shoga Akiyama and called on Stephenson, who took a ball then launched the next pitch to left field for the game winner.

Ponce walked Akiyama to open the game but John Ryan Murphy threw out the thieving 
Reds' baserunner.  Ponce retired the next 11 batters in order before Votto lined his eighth home run to left to give the Reds a 1-0 lead.

Bauer escaped a mini jam in the first inning. Erik Gonzalez singled to start the game.  Bauer walked Ke'Bryan Hayes one out later. Not to worry, Bauer struck out Josh Bell and Bryan Reynolds to get out of the first.  

Bauer walked Reynolds to start the second and Eugenio Suarez' error put two on with no outs in the second.  Tucker Barnhart threw out Reynolds on the front end of a double steal attempt and Bauer repeated his first inning escape by striking out Cole Tucker and Murphy.

The Reds threatened reliever Chris Stratton in the fifth inning of this seven-inning affair with the bases loaded with two outs but Nick Castellanos flied out to the warning track in center field. 

Bauer climbed the mound with 93 pitches. Colin Moran hit his 95th pitch high and deep to right field.  Aristedes Aquino is 6'4" and he had time to set up to make a leaping catch but it landed behind him to tie the game.  Bauer gave up two singles and left the game tied.  Raisel Iglesias was called in to hold the Pirates.  Gregory Polanco was called in to pinch hit for Tucker.  Iglesias struck out Polanco and Murphy to send the game to the bottom of the seventh.

Bauer allowed one run on four hits with two walks and 12 strikeouts in 6 1/3 innings.