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Pittsburgh Pirates 7, Cincinnati Reds 3: Stars And Stiffs
By Marty Leap
The Pittsburgh Pirates swept their day/night double header with the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday afternoon by earning a 7-3 victory in game two.
The Pittsburgh Pirates are back to .500, yay! This is due to the Pirates sweeping a double header against the Cincinnati Reds on Saturday. After winning game one 10-4, the Bucs captured game two by a score of 7-3.
The Pirates got a lackluster start from Trevor Williams, but the Pirate offense and bullpen were enough to overcome that. The Pittsburgh Pirates recent offense hot streak continued in game two of the double header as the Bucs scored four first inning runs and cruised from there. Here are the Pirates three stars and stiffs from their victory.
STARS
Second baseman/first baseman Sean Rodriguez – After finding himself on the star’s list for game one of the double header, Sean Rodriguez is here for game two as well. Rodriguez started game two at second base and finished the game at first base. And, Rodriguez had another big game at the plate.
In game two of the double header Sean Rod went 2-for-4 with a walk, a home run, and two runs scored. This gave Rodriguez a home run in each game of Saturday’s double header. For the season Rodriguez now has 16 home runs.
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The past two seasons Sean Rodriguez has been a fantastic super utility man for the Pirates. Unfortunately, he is a free agent to be who will be grossly overpaid this offseason. Due to this it appears that Sean Rod’s time in a Pirate uniform is just about up. You will be missed, Serpico.
Left fielder Adam Frazier – Despite the Reds starting a left-handed pitcher in game two of the double header, the Pirates started Adam Frazier in left field. And Frazier made Clint Hurdle look genius for starting him.
Adam Frazier finished the game 3-for-4 with two walks. Adam Frazier continues to do nothing but hit and get on base. In 114 Major League plate appearances Frazier now owns a .352/.404/.495/.899 slash line to go along with a .388 wOBA and a wRC+ of 146. Adam Frazier is proving to be a great bench player for Hurdle and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Relief pitcher Juan Nicasio – In the bottom of the fifth inning with the Pirates leading 6-2 Juan Nicasio was called upon. Nicasio took over on the mound with Reds’ runners on the corners and no one out. Nicasio proceeded to induce a 6-4-3 double play ball and then he struck out Josh Smith to end the inning.
Nicasio would also pitch the sixth inning for the Pirates. Juan Nicasio finished the night with two innings pitched, zero hits allowed, zero walks, and two strikeouts. Juan Nicasio continues to prove arguably the Pittsburgh Pirates’ best relief pitcher. Also, he was one of the biggest reasons why they swept the Reds on Saturday.
STIFFS
Starting pitcher Trevor Williams – On Saturday night Trevor Williams made his first career Major League start. Things started out extremely well for Williams. Through four innings he had allowed just one hit, but due to a 5-4-3 double play he had faced the minimum. However, in the fifth inning the wheels came off.
Trevor Williams allowed back-to-back home runs to Scott Schebler and Ramon Cabrera to start the fifth inning. Williams then allowed back-to-back singles to give the Reds runners on the corners with no one out. This led to Williams being lifted for Juan Nicasio.
His fifth inning issues all revolved around one issue: control. Williams’ control completely escaped him in the fifth inning. He had absolutely no idea where the ball was going, this led to a lot of mistake pitches, and the Reds were able to capitalize on these mistake pitches.
While Trevor Williams’ first career start was forgettable, he still flashed some good things. Moving forward I still believe Williams can be a big part of the Pirates’ rotation. Saturday night was simply a bad start for him.
Relief pitcher Zach Phillips – Zach Phillips sucks and should never pitch for the Pirates again. Phillips inherited a 6-3 lead in the bottom of the seventh inning. And Phillips did his best to blow it.
Phillips gave up a single, then got a fly out, and then walked a batter. After this he was pulled for Felipe Rivero who put the fire out. Phillips is horrible, and, hopefully, will not pitch in a close game ever again.
First baseman David Freese – Despite drawing a walk in the first inning, Saturday night was not David Freese’s best game. Freese finished the game 0-for-4, with said walk, and this included leaving an astronomical eight men on base. Freese also struck out twice.
David Freese’s two strikeouts included striking out with the bases loaded in the third inning. Freese wound up being lifted as part of a double switch in the bottom of the seventh inning.
Next: Examining Bell's Defense So Far
That will do it for this game. The Pittsburgh Pirates had a very successful Saturday afternoon in Cincinnati. Due to sweeping their double header, the Pirates are back to .500 at 75-75.
Tomorrow afternoon the Pirates will go for the four game series sweep. First pitch is slated for 1:10 PM at Great American Ballpark. The Pirates will send Ivan Nova to the mound, and the Reds will counter with Dan Straily.