Brandon Williamson Was Roughed Up In His First Start Since 2024

 

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Dateline: Cincinnati

The Reds' three-game winning streak came to an end when Brandon Williamson had a rough first start since 2024. The Pittsburgh Pirates hit four home runs, two by Oneil Cruz to take an 8-3 win.

Williamson pitched in and out of trouble in the first inning. Jake Mangum singled to open the game and Ryan O'Heart walked but Bryan Reynolds flew out to right. Williamson completed the comeback by striking out Marcle Ozuna and Brandon Lowe.

The Pirates unloaded on Williamson in the second inning. Singles by Nick Gonzales and Cruz with a walk to Joey Bart loaded the bases with no outs. Nick Yorke hit a fly to shallow center that TJ Friedl forcing TJ Friedl to make a sliding catch that allowed Gonzales to score. Ryan O'Hear hit his second home run with two on and Reynolds followed with his first of the season to make it a 5-0 game.

Bubba Chandler struck out four of the first six batters he faced but lost command in the third inning. He walked Noelvi Marte and Jose Trevino to open the third. Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a fly ball between Reynolds in left and Cruz in center. The outfielders ran into each other and no one made the catch. Hayes was credited with an RBI single that was changed to an error by Reynolds. Friedl bunted into a double play. His bunt was picked off in the air by Chandler, who threw out Trevino at second. Matt McLain walked to load the bases but Elly De La Cruz was thrown out after a diving stop by second baseman, Lowe.

Pittsburgh got the run back on Cruz' first home run of the season.

Williamson reached his pitch limit with two outs and the bases empty in the fifth inning. He went 4 2/3 innings, giving up six runs on six hits and two walks. He struck out three. He threw 94 pitches. He missed all of 2025 with reconstructive elbow surgery but had a really good spring. His first big league start didn't resemble his spring but he stuck around long enough to save the Reds' bullpen.

"I left too many heaters over the plate. Hindsight is 20-20. The three-run home run was a dagger," Williamson said. "The solo homers I can live with but the two walks and Cruz hit a two-strike pitch."

"I learned a lot from tonight. I have to come out of the gate ready to go. It took me a few innings to get locked in. After the first two innings I kind of remembered a few things, and realized I can't do that. My arm feels good. I threw better pitches the last two innings. I can build on that," Williamson said. 

Brock Burke took over for Williamson, facing Lowe. Burke was effective in 2 1/3 innings to further preserve the Reds' pen.

With the scoring change, Chandler left the game with the bases loaded and one out in the fifth inning. He walked six and struck out six, throwing 81 pitches in the process. 

Yohan Ramirez struck out McLain and De La Cruz to end the threat.

Jose Trevino singled off Hunter Barco in the seventh for the Reds' first hit. Barco walked Friedl with two outs but struck out McLain to preserve the five-run lead. 

De La Cruz snuck his second home run of the season just inside the right field foul pole. Reigning National League Player of the Week, Sal Stewart, hit his second home run of the season into the first row of the bleachers in right center field. 

Eugenio Suarez stayed alive when home plate umpire Jordan Baker did not check with first base on a checked swing. Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly was ejected from the game. Suarez singled to end the night for Barco. 

Bench coach Kristopher Negron replaced Barco with Dennis Santana with no outs and Suarez on first. Dane Myers greeted Santana with a single that sent Suarez to third and brought Noelvi Marte to the plate representing the tying run. Marte popped out to short. Nathaniel Lowe pinch hit for Trevino. Lowe's soft liner was caught on a diving catch by second baseman Lowe, who turned it into a double play.

"You never want to get doubled off," Terry Francona said. "Once Myers saw it get over the first baseman's head he was thinking third base. It was a great play."

Pierce Johnson started the ninth for the Reds. Gonzales singled for the second time in the game in front of Cruz' second home run of the game.

Closer Gregory Soto had traffic in the ninth inning but Suarez struck out with two men on. The Reds stranded 11 runners.

"I felt like we were on big hit away from getting back in that game but we didn't get that big hit," Terry Francona said.