Cincinnati Reds 7, Pittsburgh Pirates 4: Stars And Stiffs

On Sunday afternoon the Pittsburgh Pirates were unable to complete a four game sweep of the Cincinnati Reds as the Bucs fell to the Reds 7-4.

The Pittsburgh Pirates are back under .500, boo! After losing to the Cincinnati Reds on Sunday afternoon the Bucs are now 74-75 on the season.

The Pirates were able to take a 2-0 lead in the top of the second inning. However, the Reds would respond right away in the bottom of the second to tie the game. The Reds then took a lead they would not relinquish in the bottom of the third inning. Here are the Pittsburgh Pirates’ three stars and stiffs from their loss to the Reds on Sunday.

STIFFS

Second baseman Pedro Florimon – Rarely used utility man Pedro Florimon got a surprising start on Sunday afternoon. Before the game I even criticized Clint Hurdle for starting Florimon at second base instead of Alen Hanson. Well, Florimon did not disappoint in his start and made me look foolish.

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Florimon went 2-for-4 at the plate on Sunday with a triple, two runs knocked in, and a run scored. Florimon drove in the Pirates’ first two runs of the game with a two-run triple in the top of the second inning. Florimon also added a one out single in the top of the ninth, and then he came around to score on a John Jaso double.

Pedro Florimon has had a strong September for the Pittsburgh Pirates after spending all season in Triple-A. Florimon is doing his best to make a case as to why he should be a part of the Pirates’ bench in 2017.

Shortstop Sean Rodriguez – For a fourth game in a row Sean Rodriguez finds himself on the star’s list. Rodriguez got the call at shortstop on Sunday afternoon and did what he does, he hit another home run. Someone is going to make Sean Rodriguez a very wealthy man this offseason.

Rodriguez’s home run was his lone hit on Sunday afternoon. This was Rodriguez’s 17th home run of the season, which has already surpassed his former career high of 12. The offensive turnaround from Sean Rodriguez this season has been incredible.

Relief pitcher Tyler Glasnow – Tyler Glasnow made a relief appearances for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon. And Glasnow was impressive in this outing. Glasnow was able to give the Pirates three strong innings of relief on Sunday afternoon to help save the bullpen.

In his three innings of work Tyler Glasnow did not allow a run on two hits, two walks, and four strike outs. Tyler Glasnow now has 15 strikeouts in 15 1/3 career Major League innings. This season he has definitely shown flashes of why he is one of the top ten prospects in all of baseball. I look for big things from Glasnow in 2017.

STIFFS

Starting pitcher Ivan Nova – Sunday was Ivan Nova’s worst start as a Pirate. Nova’s struggles were not completely his making as a pair of errors were committed behind him. However, he allowed one line drive after another.

Ivan Nova lasted just three innings for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday. In those three innings pitched he allowed five runs, three earned, on nine hits and a pair of strikeouts. As I said above, the defense behind Nova did not help him one bit but he allowed way too much hard contact.

I am willing to beat that this game will prove to be nothing but a hiccup for Nova. With how well Nova has pitched as a Pirate this season I expect him to bounce back in his next start.

First baseman Josh Bell – Since becoming an everyday Major League player in August Josh Bell has not had very many bad games. However, Sunday was one of those games. In fact, this may have been Bell’s first all-around bad game of his Major League career.

At the plate on Sunday Josh Bell went 0-for-4, which included grounding out to second base with Adam Frazier on second base and just one out in the top of the seventh inning. The biggest gaffes from Bell on Sunday came on defense, though.

In the bottom of the second inning Reds’ third baseman Ivan DeJesus Jr. laid down a bunt. Bell charged the bunt, tried to catch it on the fly, he failed to do so, and then failed to get an out at all. This led to a two-run double by Tucker Barnhart.

Starting pitcher Dan Straily then stepped to the plate looking to lay down a sacrifice bunt. Bell fielded Straily’s bunt, and had the opportunity to prevent Barnhart from advancing to third base. Had Bell looked Barnhart back to second he would not have been able to advance. However, he did not do this, Barnhart advanced, and it led to a sacrifice fly.

Relief pitcher Drew Hutchison – The early returns on Drew Hutchison have not been good. Entering Sunday’s game Hutchison had pitched six innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates. In these six innings he had allowed 12 hits, five runs, and a home run.

In Sunday’s game Hutchison pitched out of the bullpen, which was his second relief appearances for the Pirates. Unfortunately, this appearance did not go well. In two innings pitched Hutchison allowed two runs on two hits, including a solo home run.

Drew Hutchison has now allowed seven earned runs on 14 hits and two home runs in eight innings pitched with the Pirates. Even if Hutchison continues to suck the trade with the Blue Jays that acquired him was worthwhile. This is because that trade got rid of Francisco Liriano and his contract.

That will do it for today. Sunday’s loss snapped the Pirates four game winning streak and knocked them back under .500 at 74-75. The Pirates will have Monday off, before traveling to Milwaukee for a three game series that begins on Tuesday night.