Tyler Stephenson hit a pair of two-run doubles to lead the Reds to a 9-2 triumph over the Pittsburgh Pirates that ended the horrible nine-game losing streak.
The four RBI was a career high for the second year Reds' catcher.
The Reds jumped into an early lead against Springfield, Ohio native J.T. Brubaker.
Brandon Drury hit a soft ground ball to Ke'Bryan Hayes at third base. Hayes late throw went astray and Drury has credited with a hit, reaching second on a throwing error. MIke Moustakas was hit by a pitch. Both scored on Tyler Stephenson's double just inside the third base line.
Former Pirate Connor Overton held the lead until the sixth. He finished with 5 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on six hits.
"I really wanted to finish the sixth inning," Overton said. "I started to get a little lazy with certain pitches. It was good call for him to come and get me when he did. I wanted to get through the sixth but maybe next time."
Overton gave up a run in the third with two outs. Diego Castillo singled but was erased on a double play off the bat of Jake Marisnick. Roberto Perez singled and scored from first on Ben Gamel's double.
The Pirates tied the game in the sixth.
Gamel singled and reached second on a ground out up the middle by Bryan Reynolds. Hayes single tied the game at two.
"I think to Ke'Bryan there. I really have to drive that fastball in and tight. I left it over the plate. If I get him there, I think I get to finish the sixth," Overton said.
Luis Cessa came on to get out of the inning with no further scoring.
The Pirates loaded the bases with no outs against Lucas Sims. Perez singled to open the inning. Gamel's third hit of the game sent Perez ahead but the former Red tripped trying to round second and had to leave the game. Reynolds walked to load the bases but Sims struck out Hayes, Daniel Vogelbach and MIchael Chavis to escape with the score tied.
Backup catcher Andrew Knapp had been ejected for arguing balls and strikes from the bench. VanMeter had to fill in as the emergency catcher.
The Reds promptly loaded the bases with no outs against Will Crowe. Drury was hit by a pitch and moved to second when VanMeter was unable to block a pitch in the dirt. Tommy Pham and Moustakas walked. Stephenson doubled down the right field line to score Drury and Pham. Colin Mdloran walked to refill the bases. T.J. Friedl scored pinch runner Matt Reynolds with the fifth run. Albeyrt Almora Jr. reached on an error and Tyler Naquin cleared the bases with a double. Drury singled to plate Naquin and cap the scoring.
"It felt good. Sometimes this game is ruthless, man," Naquin said.
Stephenson and VanMeter played together in the minor leagues in the Reds' organization and the major leagues.
"I feel like I got a little lucky with VanMeter back there," said Stephenson, who fell behind 0-2. "Crowe actually made some good pitches at the bottom of the zone that I took. Going back to look, they might have been there. I was battling trying to get a good pitch to hit, get the ball in the air. It sliced away from Gamel. It is the first time I've ever experienced that with someone who isn't a catcher. I mean, it was new for me. it was just weird. He did good" for someone for never doing it. I know Josh well. When I went up to hit i told him he should take that to arbitration to get paid a little bit more. When he came up his last at bat, he said man my leg is already."
Friedl's cousin is Xavier University head basketball coach Sean Miller. Miller will throw out the first pitch before the second game of the double header.
No comments:
Post a Comment