Pittsburgh Pirates Split Doubleheader Against Cincinnati Reds

CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 07: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 and Yoshi Tsutsugo #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after Hayes scored a run in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on July 07, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
CINCINNATI, OHIO - JULY 07: Ke'Bryan Hayes #13 and Yoshi Tsutsugo #25 of the Pittsburgh Pirates celebrate after Hayes scored a run in the sixth inning against the Cincinnati Reds during game one of a doubleheader at Great American Ball Park on July 07, 2022 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /
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Jul 7, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bryse Wilson (32) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 7, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Bryse Wilson (32) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports /

7th inning defensive miscues burn the Pirates in game two

Game two of the doubleheader saw Bryse Wilson start for the Pittsburgh Pirates. For the second consecutive start Wilson, who had struggled all season prior to that start, pitched well for the Pirates.

Thursday night’s start was probably the best Wilson has had as a member of the Pittsburgh Pirates. He appeared to be well on his way to pitching 7 innings of 1 run ball before poor defense brunt him.

With two outs in the 7th inning Josh VanMeter booted a routine ground ball. VanMeter then played too deep which prevent Ben Gamel from being able to slide in and make a catch on an easy pop up. Jonathan India then hit a ground ball single off Wilson to make the score 2-1 Pirates.

Wilson’s final line was 4 runs allowed on 7 hits, no walks, a solo home run and 4 strikeouts in 6.2 innings pitched. However, only 1 of the 4 runs he allowed was earned due to VanMeter’s 7th inning error.

This was quite possibly the best Wilson has ever looked in a start with the Pirates. He deserved better and got letdown in a big way by his defense. Regardless, Wilson likely earned another start with his performance.

Game two was also a brutal game for the Pirate offense.

In the 1st inning Bryan Reynolds was hit by a pitch with one out and Daniel Vogelbach doubled. With just one out the Pirates had runners on second and third with just one out, but Michael Chavis and Jack Suwinski struck out to end the scoring threat.

This wasted opportunity would prove to be costly. The lone Pirate run of game came when Vogelbach singled in Ben Gamel to give the Pirates a 1-0 lead in the 3rd inning. It was a big game for Vogelbach who went 3-for-4, raising his OPS on the season to .787 and his wRC+ to 121.

Next. Two Pirate Prospects Selected for Futures Game. dark

Friday night the Pirates will start a three-game series in Milwaukee against the Brewers. JT Brubaker (4.28 ERA, 3.93 FIP) is scheduled to start for the Pirates, while the Brewers plan to send Aaron Ashby (4.60 ERA, 3.88 FIP) to the mound. First pitch from American Family Field is scheduled for 8:10 PM ET.