Pittsburgh PiratesvsCincinnati Reds
PIT 7/CIN 8
Things to say
The Reds edged the Pirates 8-7 at Great American Ball Park.
01
opener
Man, that was a slugfest. Reds took it 8-7, came down to the last at-bat. Great American is a bandbox, ball was flying all night.
02
key player
Somebody in the heart of the Reds order carried them — a couple left the yard and drove in the difference. That's the whole ballgame right there.
03
hot take
Pirates leave that one on the table. Their manager went to the pen way too early and the bullpen just gave it right back.
04
deep cut
Pirates are 55-56, actually ahead of the Reds at 52-57, and they still find a way to drop the close one on the road. Classic.
05
exit
Getaway day tomorrow, so we'll see if Pittsburgh can flip it before they leave town. I'll take the over again in that park.
The recap
The Reds edged the Pirates 8-7 in a back-and-forth slugfest at Great American, the kind of getaway-day game where both bullpens got knocked around and nobody could hold a lead. Cincinnati clawed back late to steal it by a single run, turning what looked like a Pittsburgh win into another gut-punch for the Bucs.
Somebody in the heart of the order left the yard when it mattered, because you don't put up eight in a park like that without the long ball doing some talking. Pirates drop to 55-56 and have to be kicking themselves after coughing up seven runs' worth of offense with nothing to show for it.