The Reds travel to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to take on the Pirates for a 3 game weekday series. Monday would see Carson Spiers take on 2023 number one overall pick, Paul Skenes. Skenes has been living up to the hype as the number one pick so far, to this point he is 3-0 with a WHIP below 1.
Game 1:
The Reds would jump out on Paul Skenes early in the 1st inning. Jeimer Candelario would keep his hot hand going, he would single off Skenes to right field and follow it up by stealing 2nd base. Spencer Steer would crush a line drive off the wall for a double, scoring Candelario and putting the Reds up 1-0.
Carson Spiers would struggle in the bottom of the 1st inning. He would walk Andrew McCutchen on 4 pitches, Brian Reynolds would hit an automatic double over the left center field wall and Oneil Cruz would hit a ground ball just past Elly De La Cruz’s glove that would score both base runners. The Pirates would score another run on a groundout, giving Pittsburgh the lead 3-1. McCutchen and Reynolds would hit back to back doubles in the bottom of the 2nd inning, giving the Pirates a 4-1 lead. That’s all the offense this game would see. Paul Skenes would be phenomenal once again, 6 innings, 6 hits, 7 strikeouts and 1 walk and he would get his 4th win in his young career. Carson Spiers would settle down after a rough first 2 innings. Spiers would end up going 6 innings, allowing 7 hits, 4 earned runs with 5 strikeouts.
TJ Friedl would leave the game after a diving catch. He would immediately reach for his hamstring upon rolling over from his slide.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS:
Elly De La Cruz: 3-4 2B, SB(37)
Spencer Steer 2-4 RBI
Fridays Probables:
Nick Lodolo
Bailey Falter
Game 2:
Tuesdays game was a pitchers duel. Nick Lodolo and Bailey Falter were both sharp. Elly De La Cruz would take a walk on in the 1st but Jeimer Candelario would ground into a double play, ending the inning. Jonathan India would get the Reds’ first hit in the 2nd inning but would not score. The Reds would ground into a double play in each of the first 3 innings. Lodolo would allow back to back hits in the 3rd but would escape the jam with his 5th strikeout of the game. In the top of the 5th, Jonathan India would double and be followed up with a 2 run home run by Santiago Espinal, giving the Reds a 2-0 lead.
Lodolo would retire 11 straight Pirates before giving up a solo home run by Ke’Bryan Hayes cutting the lead to 2-1. Fernando Cruz would come in to pitch the 8th inning. After walking the 2nd batter McCutchen, Brian Reynolds hit a line drive to center, but Stuart Fairchild would make a great play to take away a potential game tying hit, and doubling off the runner ending the inning.
Alexis Diaz would pitch a much needed 1-2-3 inning in the 9th, earning the save and giving the Reds the win. Nick Lodolo was fantastic on Tuesday. He would pitch 7 innings, allow 4 hits, strike out 8 and not allow a walk.
BOX SCORE STANDOUTS:
Jonathan India: 2-4 2B
Santiago Espinal: 1-4 HR, 2RBI
Alexis Diaz: 1IP K
Wednesday Starters:
Hunter Greene
Mitch Keller
Game 3:
The rubber match on Wednesday would turn out to be the best pitching matchup of the series. Hunter Greene faces off against Mitch Keller. Keller comes in with a record of 7-4 with an ERA at 3.17. Hunter Greene would escape his only real jam of the game in the bottom of the 2nd inning. He would strike out Micheal A Taylor with runners on 2nd and 3rd to end the inning. Nick Martinez would give up the only run of the game. Brian Reynolds would keep his series hot streak going with a solo home run off Martinez in the bottom of the 8th inning. Both teams pitching staffs were on point this series. The Pirates only allowed 3 runs during the series. Hunter Greene showed that he can be the Reds’ ace along side Nick Lodolo. Greene would pitch 6.1 innings, allow 3 hits and strike out 9 with 0 walks.
If Lodolo and Greene can stay consistent, they could both be All-Star candidates this summer. Greene is currently 5-2 with an ERA of 3.35, 98 strikeouts and a 2.2 WAR. Lodolo is 8-2 with an ERA at 2.76 with 70 strikeouts and a 2.7 WAR.
The Reds will return home Friday to take on the Boston Red Sox. The Reds have lost or split 3 consecutive series. They look to rebound against Boston.
Friday Probables;
Kutter Crawford: 3-6 3.54 ERA
Andrew Abbott: 5-6 3.42 ERA
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