In What Could Be Joey Votto's Last Game Reds Keep Playoff Hopes Alive

  

TJ Friedl and Jonathan India reached base eight times combined with Friedl driving in three runs as the Reds claimed the final of the three-game series from the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-2

Alexis Diaz rebounded from two horrible appearances to work a scoreless eighth. Ian Gibaut set the Pirates down in order for his third save. 

"Of course I wanted the ball after the past two games," Diaz said. "I knew that I had to have the mentality to over come the two bad outings I had. Sure enough the results were there today."

Votto came to the plate in the second inning to a rousing standing ovation that took several minutes. It could be the last time Votto plays in Great American Ball Park. His future in the major leagues is uncertain. He singled in his last at bat of the day and left to a standing ovation for a pinch runner.

"It was overwhelming," Votto said. "All I could think about was how can I perform well. It was for sure nostalgic and humbling. The injury last year was very difficult. Coming back from it was not easy but I'm proud that I could perform. The ovation ended up going a little bit longer than I'm used to. I'm speechless. I know so many people in the crowd, so many people. I've crossed paths with maybe a majority of the people from autographs at fanfest, seeing them in the stands, seeing them on the street. There was a moment there when I said, I've got to go hit. It was my way of being playful and I hope they took it that way. You have to move forward but sometimes you get stopped in your tracks. I very nearly cried. I had a game to play and I was focused so I wasn't quite there emotionally but I almost got there."

"Nothing was planned," David Bell said. "It was all organic. I took him out for a pinch runner but it was just managing the game. It turned into a farewell moment that was never planned."

Brandon Williamson gave just one hit in four scoreless innings. Jack Suwinski led off the fifth with his 26th home run to break the scoreless tie. Henry Davis doubled and Jason Delay hit an RBI single. 

Buck Farmer relieved Williamson, who allowed two runs in 4 1/3 innings on four hits and a walk. He struck out three.

Rookie Quinn Priester, the first pick for the Pirates in the 2019 draft,  walked Jonathan India and TJ Friedl twice but did not allow a hit in the first five innings. India led off the sixth with the first Reds' hit, a single to left. Friedl tied the game with his 17th home run into the right field stands.

"Even after last night (Reds lost a nine-run lead). We got down 2-0 in a day game after that. It would have been easy to just let go of the game. But it is not in this team's DNA. We have been down, two runs and comeback many times," Friedl said.

It was the third straight game with a home run for Friedl, including an inside-the-park home run on Saturday.

With two outs Christian Encarnacion-Strand walked. Votto was hit with an 0-2 pitch. Tyler Stephenson hit a ground ball up the middle. Shortstop Liover Peguero gloved it but dropped it. Encarnacion-Strand tried to score but Peguero was thrown out at home.

With two outs in the seventh against Jose Hernandez, India doubled down the left field line. Friedl lined a single to center to snap the 2-2 tie.

Encarnacion-Strand hit his 11th home run of the season to add insurance. He homered for the second straight day this time off Andre Jackson. Votto lined a single to right. 

"Joey means so much to us. No one works harder. He will play again," Jonathan India said. 

The Reds playoff hopes are fading. All of the teams ahead of them also won on Sunday. The Reds go to Cleveland to play two games and St. Louis to play three. The Reds are 80-77.

The Pirates insured a losing season with it's 82nd loss after being 20-8 early on.