The Cincinnati Reds scored three runs in both the 3rd and 4th innings and rode strong pitching from Rhett Lowder and the bullpen to a victory on Saturday over the Pittsburgh Pirates. The 7-1 win gave the home team a series win and gives them an opportunity for a sweep on Sunday.
| Final | R | H | E |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pittsburgh Pirates (72-83) |
1 | 7 | 0 |
| Cincinnati Reds (76-80) | 7 | 9 | 1 |
| W: Lowder (2-2) L: Jones (6-8) |
|||
| Box Score | Game Thread | |||
Neither team got much done in the first two innings of the game, but the Reds got rolling in the bottom of the 3rd with a 2-out rally. Elly De La Cruz started things with his 35th double of the season and then scored on a single by Tyler Stephenson. Ty France then followed up with a 2-run home run that put Cincinnati up 3-0.
The next inning the home team went right back to it. Two singles preceeded a 423-foot home run down the right field line from Elly De La Cruz that made it 6-0.
Rhett Lowder, who had been cruising through the first four innings, ran into trouble in the 5th. After a 1-out single and a 2-out walk he gave up another single to load the bases. The rookie right-hander was able to strand the bases loaded, though, getting Bryan De La Cruz to fly out to right fielder Jake Fraley to end the top of the inning.
That was the final inning for Lowder as Buck Farmer took over in the 6th and fired a perfect inning. In the bottom of the frame the Reds would add to their lead when Elly De La Cruz singled to drive in Noelvi Marte and make it 7-0.
Justin Wilson and Yosver Zulueta both threw a shutout inning to keep the Pirates off of the board in the 7th and 8th innings. The Reds offense needed to get a baserunner in the bottom of the 8th inning to get Elly De La Cruz to the plate so he could get a chance for the triple he needed for the cycle. Noelvi Marte took care of that with a leadoff single. De La Cruz, though, did not get his triple as he grounded out to shortstop to end the inning.
Alan Busenitz took over for Cincinnati in the 9th inning for the second consecutive day. And he couldn’t get through it cleanly for the second day in a row as Billy Cook led off the inning with a home run to put the Pirates on the board. He would rebound after that and retire the next three hitters. The Reds 7-1 win gives them a series win in the final home series of the season.
Key Moment of the Game
The 2-run home run by Ty France in the 3rd inning that put the Reds up 3-0.
Notes Worth Noting
Another day and another scribbling the name of Elly De La Cruz into the record books. With his 25th home run of the year he became the first shortstop in MLB history (player with at least 50% of his games at shortstop) to have 25 home runs and 65 steals in the same year. He also joined Joe Morgan and Ronald Acuna Jr. as the only players in MLB history with 25 home runs, 35 doubles, and 65 steals in the same season.
Rhett Lowder’s ERA dropped to 1.40 through his first five starts in the big leagues. After walking eight batters in his first two starts (four in each) he’s walked three in his three starts (15.1 innings) since.
Up Next for the Cincinnati Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates vs. Cincinnati Reds
Sunday September 22nd, 1:10pm ET
Paul Skenes (10-3, 2.07 ERA) vs Hunter Greene (9-4, 2.83 ERA)
The post Elly De La Cruz’s big day leads Reds to another win appeared first on Redleg Nation.