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Gerrit Cole Turns in Dominant Performance as Pirates Defeat the Reds
Gerrit Cole did it all for the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night
On Saturday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds by a score of 1-0. With this victory the Pirates are now just 3-9 against the Reds this season. Also, this victory improves the Pirates to 62-68 overall on the season.
This was the Pirates first 1-0 victory over the Reds at Great American Ballpark since 2004. The victory was powered by a dominant start from Gerrit Cole. Additionally, Cole was responsible for the game’s lone run on Saturday night.
While Gerrit Cole started for the Pirates on Saturday night, the Reds went with Luis Castillo. These two pitchers turned this game into something that does not happen very often at Great American Ballpark – a pitcher’s duel.
The Pittsburgh Pirates threatened to draw first blood on Saturday night. This threat came in the top of the 4th inning when Josh Bell hit a two-out double that was followed by a David Freese single. Bell attempted to score on Freese’s hit, however, the slow footed Bell was thrown out at the plate to end the inning.
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In the top of the 6th inning, the scoreless tie was finally broken. Gerrit Cole led off the inning with his first home run of the season and second his career. This gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead over the Reds.
Gerrit Cole turned in a dominant performance on Saturday night. He did not get into trouble often, but when he did he would pitch out of it.
With two outs in the bottom of the 5th inning Scott Schebler hit a ground ball single through the left side of the infield that was followed by Tucker Barnhart reaching on a Josh Bell error. However, Cole then got his mound opponent to ground out to end the inning.
In the bottom of the 6th inning Jose Peraza reached on a one-out infield single and stole second base. Cole then struck out Joey Votto looking and got Adam Duvall to ground out to third base to end the inning. On the Duvall ground out he was aided by a fantastic play by David Freese.
Rookie righty Luis Castillo has been fantastic for the Reds this season and this continued on Saturday night. In 7 innings pitched he shut the Pirates down. Outside of the Cole home run, he allowed just two other hits. He issued just a single walk and he struck out 9.
To start the bottom of the 7th inning Scooter Gennett recorded a single. On the play, Adan Frazier did a great job of playing the ball off the wall to hold him to a single. This proved critical as the following batter hit into a 5-4-3 double play. Cole then got Scott Schebler to ground out to end the inning.
Saturday night was arguably Gerrit Cole’s best start of the season. In 7 innings of work, he kept the Reds off the board at one of the best hitter’s parks in all of baseball. He allowed 5 singles, no extra base hits, he did not walk a batter, and he struck out 6.
Jordy Mercer singled off new Cincinnati pitcher Wandy Peralta to start the top of the 8th inning and he advanced to second base on a sacrifice bunt by Chris Stewart. After Mercer advanced to third base on a fly out by pinch-hitter Jose Osuna, Starling Marte struck out to end the inning.
In the bottom half of the inning Juan Nicasio took over on the mound for the Pirates. With the help of strikeout, Nicasio retired the Reds in order to keep the score at 1-0 Pirates after 8 innings of play.
After the Pirates were retired in order in the top of the 9th inning, Felipe Rivero entered in the inning’s bottom half. Rivero was flat dominant on Saturday night as he retired the Reds in order and struck out all three Cincinnati’s hitters in the bottom of the 9th inning.
Saturday night was arguably Gerrit Cole’s best start of the season. In fact, considering he pitched 7 shutout innings and hit a solo home run for the game’s lone run this was one of the best game’s of his Major League career. Watching Cole dominant the Reds on Saturday night was a lot of fun.
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The third and final game of this series is scheduled for 1:10 on Sunday afternoon. Jameson Taillon will start for the Pirates while the Reds hand the ball to Tyler Mahle. This will be the Major League debut of Tyler Mahle who owns a 2.73 ERA and a 3.26 FIP at Triple-A this season.
With a win on Sunday afternoon, the Pittsburgh Pirates will record their first series victory of the season over the Cincinnati Reds.