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Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico
Spencer Horowitz drove in Bryan Reynalds three times and the Reds left 13 runners on base, falling to the Pittsburgh Pirates for the second straight day in a 4-3 loss.
Meanwhile in Chicago the New York Mets trail the north siders 10-3 in the bottom of the eighth inning. Barring a seven-run ninth the status quo will remain in place with the Reds one game out of the final wild card entry to the playoffs.
The pitching duel between the Reds Hunter Greene and the Pirates Paul Skenes was as advertised.
Greene pitched around a leadoff double in the third inning and Skenes followed suit in the Reds fifth.
The Pirates cashed in on a one-out walk to Bryan Reynolds, who scored on a double by Spencer Horwitz.
Tyler Stephenson missed a leadoff home run by about a foot in the fifth. Will Benson moved him to third with a ground out but Matt McLain and TJ Friedl struck out to allow Skenes two escape.
The Pirates scored again in the sixth. Reynolds hit a two-out double and scored on a ground single to left by Horwitz.
Greene pitched six innings, allowing two runs on five hits and two walks. Greene struck out seven. He ended the regular season with a 2.76 ERA.
Chase Burns took the mound for the Reds in the seventh.
Skenes pitched six shutout innings with four hits and no walks. He struck out seven and ended his last start of the season with a 1.97 ERA.
Justin Lawrence pitched a scoreless seventh. Isaac Mattson got two quick outs but Noelvi Marte lined a pitch to deep center. Oneil Cruz nearly made the catch but the ball bounced away as Cruz was shaken up on the play. Marte completed the circuit for an inside-the-park home run. It was Marte's 14th home run of the season. Gavin Lux walked.
Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly brought in closer Dennis Santana to face Spencer Steer. Santana hit Steer with the first pitch, putting the tying run on second with Elly De La Cruz batting. De La Cruz hit a hard ground ball to second. Nick Yorke made a diving stop and threw De La Cruz out at first base.
Emilio Pagan took over for Burns in the ninth inning. Pagan pitched out of a bases loaded jam to give the Reds a chance.
Stephenson's fourth hit of the game was a game tying 13th home run of the season with one out on a 2-2 pitch. It was the first four-hit game of Stephenson's career. Will Benson singled off Santana to become the potential winning run. McLain struck out and Friedl grounded out to end the ninth.
Tony Santillan came on in the 10th with ghost runner Yorke at second base. A wild pitch put Yorke on third with no outs. Henry Davies popped out to Stephenson behind the plate. Jack Suwinski, who replaced Cruz after he turned his ankle on Marte's home run, doubled to score Yorke. Jared Triolo struck out looking. Reynolds grounded out.
Friedl was the ghost runner on second and former Red Dauri Moreta came on to face Marte in the bottom of the 10th. Marte singled. Friedl stopped at third. Lux came to the plate with the tying run on third and no out. He tied the game with a long fly to center field. Steer struck out. De La Cruz singled to send Marte into scoring position. Miguel Andujar pinch hit for Ke'Bryan Hayes. Johan Ramirez came out of the Pirates' bullpen. Andujar struck out on the 10th pitch of the at bat to send the game to the 11th inning.
"We didn't have enough good at bats," said Lux, who played on the World Champion Dodgers' team last season. "Luck played into it and they made some plays. We just didn't get enough to win."
"That one stung, I should have gotten the runner to third," Stephenson said although his game tying home run was a point of pride. "That one was right up there as far as moments in my career go. We just have to flush this game and come back tomorrow."
Nick Martinez started the 11th with Reynolds as the ghost runner. Horwitz doubled to drive in his third run of the game. Andrew McCutchen lined to McLain, who doubled off pinch runner Alexander Canario. Tommy Pham walked. Nick Gonzalez forced Pham at second base.
Santiago Espinal was the ghost runner in the bottom of the 11th. Stephenson, looking for a career-high fifth hit against Ramirez. Stephenson struck out swinging. Benson walked. McLain flied out to right. Friedl walked to load the bases and leave the game in the hands of Marte.
"It hurts right now," Reds manager Terry Francona said. "We have to get over it quick. We're back here tomorrow. We have to keep playing. No one has a crystal ball. None of us knows what is going to happen. All you can do is keep playing."
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