Colin Moran and Heath Hembree switched uniforms since last season. Moran hit a grand slam off Hembree to turn a 2-1 deficit into a 5-2 lead. It was the decisive blow in the rubber game in what turned into a three-game series. The 7-3 final that featured Moran's second home run of the game, a two run blast off Chase De Jong.
The Reds loaded the bases against reliever Dillon Peters, who came in to protect a 2-0 lead. He waus not able to do it. Brandon Drury dumped a pop up near the right field line that was oui of the reach of three Pirate defenders. Peters then walked Mike Moustakas, Tyler Stephenson and pinch hitter Tommy Pham to break the shutout. Hembree, who was the winning pitcher in the second game last night, extended Kyle Farmer's hitless streak to 29 at bats with a strike out.
Moran hit a long majestic drive into the right field seats. It was his first home run of the season but his fifth career grand slam. It was in front of those same seats that Pirates right fielder Jack Suwinski robbed Moran of a game tying home run in the second game Saturday. Moran's six RBI established a new career high.
Tyler Mahle was trying to break a personal three-game losing streak.
Mahle allowed just one hit but walked three. The lone hit was a second inning home run by Michael Perez, who was called up from Indianapolis to replace Roberto Perez. Roberto strained a hamstring on the base path in the first game of Saturday's double header.
The homer followed a walk, flyout and force out. That allowed Jack Suwinski to score ahead of Perez's first home run of the season.
Mahle left after five innings, trailing 2-0. The Reds still haven't had a starting pitcher pitch six innings in the first 28 games.
The Reds couldn't solve Zach Thompson, even though he was tied for sixth with 21 runs allowed and a 9.39 ERA entering the game.
The Reds put two runners on base in the first inning. TJ Friedl bunted for a single to leadoff the game. Mike Moustakas was hit by a pitch. Thompson retired nine batters in a row after the hit batter until Tyler Stephenson reached second base on a throwing error by Michael Chavis at third. Albert Almora hit a harmless one-out single in Thompson's last inning. He finished with five innings, allowing two hits and the hit batter and no walks. Thompson fanned six Reds' batters.
Bryan Reynolds hit his fourth home run of the season against Dauri Moreta in the eighth inning. Reynolds hit a home run off Moreta on Saturday night in the second game. Moreta is the first pitcher to pitch in relief the day after a start since Tim Birtsas
The Reds are just 5-23 on the season but are 3-2 on Sundays.
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