Trio Of Pirates Homer Trip Up Reds

 

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For the second straight game, the Pittsburgh Pirates hit three home runs to take the Reds down in a 6-1 decision.

Brian Reynolds drove in two runs with a single and a solo home run. It was his 23rd of the season and ninth career at Great American Ball Park.  Ke'Bryan Hayes hit his seventh off Luis Cessa, the Reds' starter. Cal Mitchell hit a two-run home run to end Cessa's day in the sixth.

Cessa was converted from a reliever to a starter on August 22 after 35 relief appearances.

"We couldn't ask any more from Luis," said David Bell.  "We didn't score any runs so it looked like a different kind of game.  He kept us in it for the most part."

Reynolds and Hayes jumped on the first pitch in the at bat.

"The scouting report said they were a patient team," Cessa said.  "I guess they knew me from the Yankees. A couple of first pitches were the key to the game.  They were aggressive.  I have to pay better attention to Reynolds and Hayes."

Johan Oviedo walked two batters in the first four innings before Spencer Steer broke up the no-hitter with a fifth inning single.

The Red used three hits and a walk to score a run off Zach Thompson in the sixth.  TJ Friedl hit a ground rule double to open the inning.  Jonathan India lined the ball to left center where Jack Suwinski fielded it on a hop.  Friedl moved to third but India was thrown out at secondbase.  Kyle Farmer's ground out to third drove in a run.  Jake Fraley walked and Aristides Aquino singled but Nick Senzel was robbed of an RBI hit when Rolando Castro made a leaping catch of his looping line drive.

Jake Fraley left the game after being hit in the head by a pitch from Manny Banuelos.

"It sucks.  It is part of the game.  Any time you come to the plate it could happen," Fraley said.  "Everything is good so far.  Thank the Lord.  It could have been worse.  It hit me direct in the helmet.  Most of the time the manager doesn't give you a choice.  I'd rather get it checked out to make sure everything is ok that late in the game."

Fraley did not start the second game.

Kyle Dowdy, who was brought up by the Reds as their 29th man, relieved Cessa.  Dowdy helped save the Reds bullpen by turning in 2 1/3 scoreless innings.

Back-to-back doubles by Hayes and Ben Gamel off Hunter Strickland closed out the scoring in the ninth.