Hunter Greene Shackles Pirates Santiago Espinal Put The Reds In Front To Stay

 

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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Reds swept the Pittsburgh Pirates with a 4-0 win that evened the Reds’ record at 9-9.

It was the first sweep of the season for the Reds and the first time they have swept the Pirates since August 2021 in a four-game series.

Hunter Greene entered the game against the Pittsburgh with a winless record against them

The Pirates beat him without a hit on May 15, 2022.

Greene shackled the Pirates on Sunday.

“It is part of a progression as a pitcher where you can throw any pitch in any count. It feels good to do that,” Greene said. “It is very rewarding to go deep in the game, to rest our relievers and keep our team in the game.”

Greene extended his scoreless innings streak to 18 ⅔ innings by retiring the last 17 batters he faced. Greene completed seven scoreless innings, allowing two hits and a walk. He struck out eight.

“I haven’t been around him as much as everybody else, but just watching him work, you’re seeing a young, good player find the next gear. You watch him the day after he pitches. He gets after it,” manager Terry Francona said. “Good players learn. He holds his velocity and competes. If I had his stuff, I’d attack too.”

Santiago Espinal delivered a two-run single in the third inning. Noelvi Marte started the fifth inning with a walk off Carmen Mlodzinski. Austin Wynns singled to put runners on first and third. TJ Friedl drove in one run with a force of Wynns at second. 

“Every good team has a utility guy (like Espinal),” Francona said. “That they can plug in and feel really good about. Wherever you put him, he’s going to catch the ball. He can hit the ball to the right side. He doesn’t strike out a lot. There’s a lot to like.”

Ian Gibaut came on to pitch a scoreless eighth. Tony Santillan, pitching in his ninth game of the season, made quick work of the Pirates as Reds’ pitchers retired the last 23 batters in a row.

Reds’ pitching has held opponents scoreless in three of the last six games, allowing a total of 13 runs in that stretch.