Pittsburgh Pirates Avoid Being Swept by the Reds

PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 03: Starling Marte
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 03: Starling Marte /
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The Pittsburgh Pirates were victorious on Thursday night

The old saying goes that the third time is the charm. This was the case for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday night. After losing the first two games of their series against the Reds, the Pirates were 6-0 victors on Thursday night.

With the win, the Pittsburgh Pirates are now 52-56 overall this season. However, they are still just 2-8 against the last place Reds. Hopefully, this win can get the Pittsburgh Pirates back on track to playing the strong baseball they were before their last road trip.

Starling Marte singled to start the bottom of the 1st inning. Adam Frazier then hit a slow rolling ball off the glove of Reds’ third baseman Eugenio Suarez. The ball then rolled into left field where Adam Duvall fielded the ball and threw it to the backstop.

On Duvall’s throw, Marte scored to make it 1-0 Pirates while Frazier went all the way to third base. Andrew McCutchen then grounded out to third base, this scored Frazier making it 2-0 Pirates.

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The Bucs added to their lead in the bottom of the 3rd inning and it started with a double by Marte. A McCutchen single made it 3-0 Pirates. After Josh Bell singled, David Freese collected a RBI single to score McCutchen to make it 4-0 Pirates.

Notorious Pirate killer Billy Hamilton would get ejected in the top of the 5th inning. This came after arguing with home plate umpire Todd Tichenor.

Chad Kuhl stared for the Pirates on Thursday night and turned in a gem of a start. In fact, Thursday night was the best start of Kuhl’s career.

Chad Kuhl pitched a career-high tying 7 innings. He allowed 4 hits, 0 runs, 2 walks, and he struck out 7.

To start the bottom of the 7th inning John Jaso pinch hit and broke an 0-for-35 strike with a bloop hit to right field. Starling Marte’s third hit of the game and Adam Frazier’s second loaded the bases with no one out.

After Andrew McCutchen struck out, Hunter Shackelford was removed from the game by the Reds. Wandy Peralta replaced Shackelford and allowed a sacrifice fly to Josh Bell and a RBI single to David Freese before ending the inning.

This made the score 6-0 Pirates after 7 innings of play.

A.J. Schugel worked around a walk to pitch a scoreless 8th inning for the Pirates. In the top of the 9th, Dovydas Neverauskas was called upon by Clint Hurdle. Neverauskas retired the Reds in order, including a strikeout, to finish off the game.

Next: Mitch Keller Promoted to Double-A

Thursday night was one of the most complete games the Pittsburgh Pirates have played this season, and it was by far the best game they have played against the Reds this season. It was great to see the Pirates get up off the mat after back-to-back disastrous performances to start this series.

On Friday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates begin a three game series against the San Diego Padres at PNC Park. Ivan Nova will start for the Pirates, while the Padres send Travis Wood to the mound. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05.