Pittsburgh Pirates series takeaways vs Cincinnati Reds

Jul 31, 2015; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle walks through the dugout at the beginning of game with the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Game One: A.J. Burnett (8-4, 2.68 ERA) vs. David Holmberg (2015 debut)

Result: Pirates lose 15-5

Winning Pitcher: Dave Holmberg (1-0, 3.00 ERA)

Losing Pitcher: A.J. Burnett (8-5, 3.06 ERA)

• What went right:
  • Andrew McCutchen had a pretty solid game, going 3-5 with an RBI and two runs scored.
  • Gregory Polanco went 2-4 with a walk and a run scored.
  • Starling Marte went 2-4 with a run scored.
  • Pedro Alvarez continued his home run streak, going 1-3 with a home run, an RBI, and a run scored.

• What went wrong:
  • A.J. Burnett had another very poor start and ended up going on the DL after the game. He went 4.1 innings, allowed eight runs (seven earned) on 10 hits, and struck out four.
  • Deolis Guerra had to take his lumps because of the score. He did not pitch well at all. He went 1.1 innings, allowed six runs on seven hits, and struck out two.
  • Brandon Phillips had a monster game, going 4-5 with two home runs, two runs scored, and seven RBIs.
  • Marlon Byrd had a big game of his own, going 3-6 with a home run, a run scored, and an RBI.

When a position player takes the mound, it usually isn’t a good thing. The Pirates got whooped pretty good, but the beauty of baseball is that there is always another game. The Pirates looked to rebound with Jeff Locke on the mound.

Next: Game Two: Jeff Locke vs. Michael Lorenzen