Pittsburgh Pirates Blast Cincinnati Reds to Continue Red Hot Start

The Pittsburgh Pirates are off to the best start in the National League

On Friday night, the Pittsburgh Pirates blasted the Cincinnati Reds 14-3. With the win, the Pirates are now a National League best 6-1 on the season.

Trevor Williams started for the Pirates on Friday night and pitched better than his final line indicated. After firing 6 no-hit innings in his first start of the season last Sunday, Willaims allowed a pair of earned runs in 5 1/3 innings pitched on Friday night.

Williams allowed 10 hits, he struck out 4, and issued just a single walk in his 5 1/3 innings of work in Friday’s victory. However, Williams was burnt by some bad luck in his start. While the defense behind him was charged with just a single error, there were an additional three or four plays that should have been made that were not that led to base hits. This combined with a pair of bad luck bloop hits are why he pitched better than his final line indicated.

The Pirate offense was led by a pair of newcomers who Pirate careers are off to hot starts in this victory. In the bottom of the 2nd inning Colin Moran doubled in fellow new Pirate Corey Dickerson, and Moran would later score on a Jordy Mercer double. This made the score 2-0 Pirates after 2 innings of play.

In the bottom of the 3rd inning with the game now tied at 2, Moran stepped to the plate with the bases loaded and hit a 2-run single into right-center field. Moran would collect another pair of hits, to finish the night 4-for-5 with a double and 3 runs knocked in.

The other aforementioned newcomer, Corey Dickerson, was another catalyst in the Pirate offensive attack in Friday’s 14-3 victory. In the bottom of the 6th inning Dickerson helped to bust the game open with a 2-run double, making the score 10-2 Pirates. Dickerson finished the game 3-for-4 with a pair of doubles, he drove in a pair of runs, and he was hit by a pitch.

Speaking of red hot starts, Gregory Polanco continued his by driving in a pair of runs with his 4th double of the season. Polanco continues to look strong and healthy at the plate, and he looks like a guy primed to have a career year.

In the top of the 8th inning right-handed pitcher Clay Holmes made his Major League debut for the Pirates. Holmes pitched the 8th and 9th innings and allowed a run while walking a pair and recording his first two career strikeouts.

Next: No. 4 Prospect - Cole Tucker

Next up for the Pittsburgh Pirates is game three of this four-game series against the Cincinnati Reds. Game three of the series is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. from PNC Park on Saturday night and will feature a pitching matchup of Chad Kuhl and Sal Romano.