Bryan Reynolds’ two-out triple in the bottom of the eighth drove in the tying and go-ahead runs and led the host Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 comeback win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.
Reynolds, who also doubled and scored the Pirates’ first run in the fourth, roped a ball into right field off reliever Tony Santillan (1-4), which allowed Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Tommy Pham to score and erase a 2-1 deficit.
Dennis Santana worked a scoreless ninth to pick up his seventh save and lead the Pirates to their second consecutive win over the Reds to open their current four-game series. Cincinnati dropped its third in a row and suffered another damaging loss to its fading playoff hopes.
Kyle Nicolas (1-0) struck out two during a scoreless eighth to keep it a one-run deficit for Pittsburgh heading into the bottom half of the frame.
Kiner-Falefa drew a walk with one out. After Spencer Horwitz struck out, Pham singled to center, moving Kiner-Falefa to reach third and setting up Reynolds’ eventual game-winner.
Cincinnati, which is 19-43 at PNC Park since the start of the 2018 season, dropped to 14-16 in one-run games this season while the Pirates improved to 21-25 in such games.
The loss denied Reds starter Chase Burns’ his first major league win and squandered the best outing of the rookie’s young career. Burns struck out 10 and gave up one run over a career-high six innings. Burns has fanned 10 batters in four consecutive starts.
Tyler Stephenson had two hits, including a go-ahead RBI double in the top of the sixth, which drove in Gavin Lux.
Pirates’ starter Mitch Keller allowed both Cincinnati runs on six hits and three walks, while striking out three. He exited the game with two outs in the sixth after giving up a double to Lux, who led the Reds with three hits, and walking Miguel Andujar.
Stephenson belted his go-ahead hit off a slider by Pirates reliever Dauri Moreta, who ended the inning by striking out Jack Fraley.
Oneil Cruz tied the game at 1 in the bottom of the fourth with an opposite field double to left field off Burns, which scored Reynolds.
The Reds optioned pitcher Yosver Zulueta to Triple-A Louisville on Friday and recalled pitcher Sam Benschoter.
–Field Level Media
