The Reds Hit Into Three Double Plays To Kill Rallies In Loss To Pirates

 

 Also  Follow Reds on https://athlonsports.com/

Dateline: 1,209 Kilometers from the Gulf of Mexico

The Pittsburgh Pirates scored four run in the top of the second innings and held on with double plays in each of the last three innings for a 4-2 win.

It snapped the Reds' winning streak at four games and jeopardizes a tie with the New York Mets, who are tied with the Chicago Cubs in the middle of the seventh inning, 7-7.

The Pirates ambushed Singer in the second inning with one our Jack Suwinski doubled to the left centerfield gap. Nick Yorke grounded an RBI single up the middle. Alexander Canario doubled to score Yorke. O'neil Cruz hit his 20th home run the opposite way to left field and the Pirates had a 4-0 lead.

Pittsburgh starter, Johan Oviedo, walked Spencer Steer to open the second for the Reds. Elly De La Cruz hit his 21st home run to cut the lead in half. It was half way up the stands in right field.

Singer was not able to get his swagger back with 5 1/3 innings in which he allowed four runs on seven hits and a hit batter.

"I haven't gone back and looked at it yet," Singer said. "I think I left too many pitches in the middle of the plate and they put good swings on them. I just tried to go deeper into the game. We have to flush this one and come back tomorrow."

The Reds are down to their last five games.

Double plays turned in by the Pirates infield kept the Reds from making a comeback.

Sal Stewart in the seventh, Miguel Andujar in the eighth and McLain in the ninth hit into rally killing double plays. The Reds managed five hits, three by De La Cruz to falter on offense.

"I thought Brady had really good stuff, nice and crisp. He gets two quick outs then threw a back foot slider that hit the back foot. He threw a pitch outside to (Oneil) Cruz. When he gets his arms extended, he really hurt us," Francona said. "The double plays really hurt us."