Spencer Horwitz had three hits and drove in Bryan Reynolds three times as the visiting Pittsburgh Pirates outlasted the Cincinnati Reds, 4-3, in 11 innings Wednesday night, dealing a critical blow to Cincinnati’s postseason hopes.
Tyler Stephenson tied the game with his fourth hit, a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, but the Reds couldn’t capitalize on several chances in the 10th and 11th, as Noelvi Marte grounded out with the bases loaded to end the game.
Cy Young favorite Paul Skenes tossed six shutout innings, and Horwitz drove in two as the Pirates took a 2-0 lead into the eighth and a 2-1 lead into the ninth.
Jack Suwinski doubled home the go-ahead run with one out in the top of the 10th before Gavin Lux tied the game with a sacrifice fly following Marte’s single to open the bottom of the 10th. The Reds had a chance to win it with runners on first and second but pinch-hitter Miguel Andujar struck out against Yohan Ramirez (2-3), who finished the 11th for the win.
Horwitz’s third hit of the night, a double off Nick Martinez (11-14) to open the 11th, scored Reynolds for a third time and put Pittsburgh up, 4-3.
Stephenson finished with four hits, including two against Skenes, to lead Cincinnati (80-78) while the Pirates (69-89) won their fourth straight.
The overwhelming favorite in the National League Cy Young race, Skenes allowed four hits, struck out seven and walked none over 85 pitches and six innings in his final appearance of 2025. The flame-throwing right-hander finished the season with a 1.97 ERA in 32 starts.
Skenes held Cincinnati scoreless in 12 innings this season, beating them twice, and he’s 4-0 lifetime against Cincinnati. Skenes has allowed just one run lifetime against the Reds in five career starts covering 29 innings, lowering his ERA against Cincinnati to 0.31.
Facing reliever Isaac Mattson, Marte lined a two-out fly ball off the top of the center field wall, just beyond the leaping Oneil Cruz. The ball caromed on the warning track to left-center for his first career inside-the-park home run, his 14th homer this season.
On the play, Cruz injured his left ankle and was removed from the game in the ninth.
–Field Level Media
