Gennett powers Reds over Pirates
PITTSBURGH -- Scooter Gennett belted a three-run homer that helped propel the Cincinnati Reds to a 6-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Tuesday night.
Gennett (3-for-4) also singled and scored what would be the game-winning run on a Billy Hamilton single in the seventh inning off Pirates reliever Juan Nicasio (0-1). In the eighth, Gennett added some insurance runs with a three-run blast off Trevor Williams.
Cincinnati reliever Drew Storen (1-0) earned the win. Raisel Iglesias pitched 1 2/3 innings to record his third save.
The game was a back-and-forth affair in the early going, with the Reds twice earning a one-run lead only to have the Pirates come back to tie it.
Some sloppy Cincinnati defense let the Pirates tie the game in the sixth. Gennett dropped a ball making a turn at second base on a potential double play. Jose Peraza then made a throwing error on a routine ground ball, allowing Francisco Cervelli to score.
Reds starting pitcher Rookie Davis threw four innings of two-hit ball before leaving in the fifth inning due to a bruised right forearm.
While batting in the top half of the inning, Davis attempted to bunt and was hit in the arm by Pirates starter Jameson Taillon. Davis took his place at first base, but was replaced on the mound in the bottom of the inning by Tony Cingrani. Davis threw 88 pitches, walked four and struck out three.
The Reds gained a 2-1 lead by manufacturing a run in the fourth off Taillon. Jose Peraza hit a soft double to shallow right field, stole third base and scored on an RBI single by Eugenio Suarez.
The Pirates executed a double steal with Gregory Polanco on first base and Starling Marte on third in the third inning. The throw went from Cincinnati catcher Tucker Barnhart to second base and back to Barnhart ahead of Marte, but Marte avoided the tag with a headfirst slide into home that was upheld by a replay review.
It was the first steal of home plate by a Pirates player since June 27, 2015. Marte was the runner on that play as well.
Adam Duvall started the scoring with a solo home run off Taillon in the second inning. It was Duvall's third of the season.
NOTES: Reds right-handed relief pitcher Austin Brice returned from a rehab assignment, was reinstated from the 10-day disabled list and optioned to Double-A Pensacola. Brice made two rehab appearances for Pensacola. He had been sidelined with ulnar nerve inflammation since early March. ... Joey Votto went 0-for-5 and fell to 5-for-31 (.192) on the season. ... For the Pirates, 2B Josh Harrison returned to the lineup after missing one game with a right calf injury. Harrison went 2-for-4. ... Pirates 3B David Freese singled in the eighth inning for his 800th career hit. ... Attendance was 11,027, the lowest-attended Pirates game at PNC Park since 2013.