It looked like Shogo Akiyama was going to be stranded at second base. But his patience was rewarded when he waited through three at bats before Mike Moustakas' three-run home run gave David Bell a gift wrapped double header sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates for his 48th birthday with a 9-4 nightcap victory.
Akiyama led off the fifth inning with a ground single to center with the Reds' trailing in this mini home run derby. He scooted to second base when Derek Holland's pitch in the dirt leaked past catcher Jacob Stallings. From that vantage point, the rookie from Japan watched Nick Castellanos and Joey Votto take called third strikes. A pitching change and a five pitch walk by Nik Turley set up Moustakas blast to center for his fifth home run to turn a 4-3 deficit into a 6-4 lead.
Pittsburgh got on the board first with a run off Anthony DeSclafani. The Reds' starter hit Adam Frazier with a pitch. One out later Colin Moran doubler Frazier home. Josh Bell lined a pitch toward the left field line that Akiyama cut the ball off and threw to second base to nail Bell. Moran was too leisurely rounding third and home plate umpire Laz Diaz waived off the apparent run as the out preceded Moran's touch of home plate. The call stood up under replay scrutiny.
Brian Goodwin hit a two-run home run off Pirates' starting pitcher Mitch Keller. Votto, who had a home run in the first game, clubbed his ninth home run of the season off the Tide tarp in right field to give the Reds a 3-1 lead.
Bell got to DeSclafani for his seventh home run of the season to make it a one-run game.
Ke'Bryan Hayes put the Pirates in the lead with a two-run home run off DeSclafani. It was his second home run since making his Major League debut on two weeks ago. Sal Romano, who was recalled earlier today, got a pop up from Gregory Polanco to end the inning and become the pitcher of record.
The Reds took advantage of three walks and a hit batter from Geoff Hartlieb to add a run in the sixth. Castellano reached on an error when shortstop, Erik Gonzalez couldn't handle the hard grounder with the infield drawn in. Curt Casali scored on a wild pitch and Votto walked to refill the bases before Hartlieb was yanked.
No comments:
Post a Comment