Four hours to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (40-31) vs. Cincinnati Reds (33-37), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP A.J. Burnett (6-3, 2.05) vs. RHP Anthony DeSclafani (5-5, 3.48)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Pregame notes 4:45 p.m.: Gregory Polanco has had a few adventures in the vicinity of second base recently, but he remains the Pirates’ most effective baserunner. Not only does he have 17 steals in 23 attempts, but he also is the team’s leader in the Baserunning Runs metric at plus-2.9. “He has good vision, good awareness,” Clint Hurdle said. “He’s got a bold and aggressive chip in him. He’s worked hard on his leads and his first-step quickness. He talked coming into this season about making that a bigger club in his bag. It’s been fun to watch his development there.” … The notion of clutch can be defined different ways. It’s not as simple as the “close and late” stats. Case in point: Even though Polanco’s fifth-inning lineout was the highest-leverage at-bat of the game, according to FanGraphs, Marlon Byrd’s first-inning home run had the most impact in Win Probability Added, with 14 percent. Byrd’s shot took the Reds from favorites to win the game (69 percent) to nearly certain at 83 percent, even though there were still 8 ½ innings to play. … While the second-place Pirates have won 22 of their past 31, they still trail the Cardinals by seven games. However, Hurdle blanched at a question about whether the team has anticipated a fallback from its recent pace. “I don’t believe in the law of averages, because you’re setting yourself up to be mediocre,” he said. “Someone told me the other day that we’ll never catch the Cardinals. Well, what if we win every game? Who wrote the law of averages? I’d like to talk to him.” … On the topic of regression, the Pirates’ starters have followed up a string of nearly immaculate pitching with a below-average turn through the rotation of 28 runs allowed in five games. Starters had permitted a total of seven runs during an eight-game win streak. “We had an incredible run, but now we’re battling to get out of the first inning without a crooked number,” Hurdle said. “That’s a part of the game I love. You take that belt and pull it a notch closer.” … The Pirates are 2-6 against the Reds, but one of those wins came May 7 at PNC Park, when Burnett and DeSclafani matched up. Burnett went seven innings to DeSclafini’s five in a 7-2 victory…Hurdle cited total innings played as much as games for giving Starling Marte his first game off since April 14. Marte has competed in a team-high 70 games this season, one ahead of Andrew McCutchen…Hurdle praised newcomer Chris Volstad for getting through two scoreless innings last night on 20 pitches. The coaching staff emphasizes retiring batters in three pitches or fewer, said Arquimedes Caminero: “We try to be aggressive in the strike zone. That makes your stuff better.”
6:15: It’s tough to classify the current precipitation as rain, but it’s definitely a heavy mist at least. Tarp is on, but the radar indicates there isn’t much left to the storm. No word on a delay.
7:10: The grounds crew is going to work on the tarp. The light rain has stopped and the forecast is clear. Expected start time is 8 p.m.
8:01: First pitch from Burnett to Brandon Phillips is a called strike. Looks like most of the seats are occupied despite the hour-long delay.
8:07: 1-0 Reds. Who else but Todd Frazier smokes a fastball up the middle to score Phillips, who reached on a Jung Ho Kang error to lead off. Cincinnati has taken a first-inning lead in every game this series.
8:27: Liberal strike zone for home-plate umpire Chris Conroy tonight. Several dubious called strikes in the first, and another in the top of the second with Skip Schumaker at the plate. Batters for both sides are shaking their heads.
8:33: 2-0 Reds on back-to-back two-out hits. Phillips plugs the right-center gap for a triple, pushing Billy Hamilton around after a single and his MLB-leading 36th stolen base.
8:46: Woah…3-2 Pirates suddenly after a two-out error by Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez kept the second inning alive. Jordy Mercer sliced a book-rule double inside the right-field line for one run, then Burnett(!) followed with a scorched two-run single into center off DeSclafani. Predictably, that draws a huge pop from the crowd.
9:07: Pitchers regain control in a quiet third. Burnett has thrown 43 of 63 pitches for strikes (3 Ks), while DeSclafani is 32 for 47 (4 Ks).
9:19: Burnett escapes a hairy top of the fourth with a 3-6-1 double play off the bat of Joey Votto. Pedro Alvarez made a precise throw to Mercer to get the play started.
9:39: The Pirates challenge the back end of what they thought was a 1-6-3 double play, but replay confirms Angel Hernandez‘ initial call that Alvarez came off the bag to field Mercer’s relay throw.
9:58: Phillips lines out to McCutchen with a runner on to end the top of the sixth. That figures to be the end of Burnett’s night, with his 110 pitches ranking as his second-most this season. He allowed at least one hit in every inning, but struck out five against one walk.
10:09: Francisco Cervelli pokes DeSclafani’s 93rd pitch through the right side to score McCutchen. 4-2 Pirates in the sixth and Burke Badenhop is warming in the Reds bullpen.
10:16: It’s tied 4-4. FRAZIER, clearly upset about not getting the all-caps treatment earlier, takes out his frustration on a center-cut Caminero heater. FRAZIER’S 24th home run followed Votto’s leadoff single, which Josh Harrison allowed to skip to the Clemente Wall.
10:32: Antonio Bastardo tidies up Caminero’s clutter with a pair of swinging strikeouts. Stretch time at PNC.
10:46: Tony Watson did that thing he does. On to the bottom of the eighth, with J.J. Hoover in for the Reds.
10:52: Goodness…Phillips may have lost some range over the years, but those hands still work. He stabs Neil Walker‘s one-hopper and flips a behind-the-back feed to Suarez to start a 4-6-3 double play.
10:58: With two on and two out, Cervelli lines a ball to deep right-center, but Byrd takes a perfect route and pulls in the potential go-ahead double. Pirates had three baserunners in the eighth against Hoover, but it remains tied.
11:10: Mercer has been a busy man tonight. He ranges to his backhand and makes an off-balance throw to get Ivan DeJesus, Jr., by a half-step. Mark Melancon navigates two singles for a scoreless ninth.
11:18: First and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. McCutchen up to the plate. Crowd standing…
11:23: Ryan Mattheus retires McCutchen on a high fly to right. Crowd seated. We’ll play at least one extra.
11:34: For some reason, Hamilton stopped running on a steal attempt with one out. He gets tagged out between first and second, wasting the Reds’ threat in the 10th.
11:58: In his second inning of relief, Vance Worley puts the first two batters on but sits the next three down. Mercer, Sean Rodriguez and Harrison due up in the bottom of the 11th against new father Aroldis Chapman.
12:08 a.m.: The ball does not seem to be carrying tonight for those not named FRAZIER. Mercer and Polanco both hammered fastballs from Chapman to center, but both died in Hamilton’s glove on the warning track. To the 12th!
12:20: Wild swings of fortune in the bottom of the 12th: McCutchen’s leadoff drive off Pedro Villarreal hits the top of the wall, followed by an intentional walk to Walker. Kang then lines out to Votto, who catches Walker wandering off the bag for a double play.
12:28: 5-4 Reds in the 13th. The thick air was no match for that missile from Phillips, as he mashed a 2-1 inner-half fastball from Rob Scahill into the left-field bleachers.
12:42: And the home side goes quickly in the bottom half. Reds take the series and send the Pirates to their fifth loss in six games. Story to come …
Aroldis Chapman, the Reds’ flamethrowing closer, will be available after a paternity leave. — GETTY
June 25, 2015
Final: Reds 5, Pirates 4, 13 innings
by Matt Gajtka • Game previews
Four hours to first pitch …
Game: Pirates (40-31) vs. Cincinnati Reds (33-37), 7:05 p.m., PNC Park
Pitchers: RHP A.J. Burnett (6-3, 2.05) vs. RHP Anthony DeSclafani (5-5, 3.48)
TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan
Online: Gameday / Multimedia / Media notes
Pregame notes 4:45 p.m.: Gregory Polanco has had a few adventures in the vicinity of second base recently, but he remains the Pirates’ most effective baserunner. Not only does he have 17 steals in 23 attempts, but he also is the team’s leader in the Baserunning Runs metric at plus-2.9. “He has good vision, good awareness,” Clint Hurdle said. “He’s got a bold and aggressive chip in him. He’s worked hard on his leads and his first-step quickness. He talked coming into this season about making that a bigger club in his bag. It’s been fun to watch his development there.” … The notion of clutch can be defined different ways. It’s not as simple as the “close and late” stats. Case in point: Even though Polanco’s fifth-inning lineout was the highest-leverage at-bat of the game, according to FanGraphs, Marlon Byrd’s first-inning home run had the most impact in Win Probability Added, with 14 percent. Byrd’s shot took the Reds from favorites to win the game (69 percent) to nearly certain at 83 percent, even though there were still 8 ½ innings to play. … While the second-place Pirates have won 22 of their past 31, they still trail the Cardinals by seven games. However, Hurdle blanched at a question about whether the team has anticipated a fallback from its recent pace. “I don’t believe in the law of averages, because you’re setting yourself up to be mediocre,” he said. “Someone told me the other day that we’ll never catch the Cardinals. Well, what if we win every game? Who wrote the law of averages? I’d like to talk to him.” … On the topic of regression, the Pirates’ starters have followed up a string of nearly immaculate pitching with a below-average turn through the rotation of 28 runs allowed in five games. Starters had permitted a total of seven runs during an eight-game win streak. “We had an incredible run, but now we’re battling to get out of the first inning without a crooked number,” Hurdle said. “That’s a part of the game I love. You take that belt and pull it a notch closer.” … The Pirates are 2-6 against the Reds, but one of those wins came May 7 at PNC Park, when Burnett and DeSclafani matched up. Burnett went seven innings to DeSclafini’s five in a 7-2 victory…Hurdle cited total innings played as much as games for giving Starling Marte his first game off since April 14. Marte has competed in a team-high 70 games this season, one ahead of Andrew McCutchen…Hurdle praised newcomer Chris Volstad for getting through two scoreless innings last night on 20 pitches. The coaching staff emphasizes retiring batters in three pitches or fewer, said Arquimedes Caminero: “We try to be aggressive in the strike zone. That makes your stuff better.”
6:15: It’s tough to classify the current precipitation as rain, but it’s definitely a heavy mist at least. Tarp is on, but the radar indicates there isn’t much left to the storm. No word on a delay.
7:10: The grounds crew is going to work on the tarp. The light rain has stopped and the forecast is clear. Expected start time is 8 p.m.
8:01: First pitch from Burnett to Brandon Phillips is a called strike. Looks like most of the seats are occupied despite the hour-long delay.
8:07: 1-0 Reds. Who else but Todd Frazier smokes a fastball up the middle to score Phillips, who reached on a Jung Ho Kang error to lead off. Cincinnati has taken a first-inning lead in every game this series.
8:27: Liberal strike zone for home-plate umpire Chris Conroy tonight. Several dubious called strikes in the first, and another in the top of the second with Skip Schumaker at the plate. Batters for both sides are shaking their heads.
8:33: 2-0 Reds on back-to-back two-out hits. Phillips plugs the right-center gap for a triple, pushing Billy Hamilton around after a single and his MLB-leading 36th stolen base.
8:46: Woah…3-2 Pirates suddenly after a two-out error by Reds shortstop Eugenio Suarez kept the second inning alive. Jordy Mercer sliced a book-rule double inside the right-field line for one run, then Burnett(!) followed with a scorched two-run single into center off DeSclafani. Predictably, that draws a huge pop from the crowd.
9:07: Pitchers regain control in a quiet third. Burnett has thrown 43 of 63 pitches for strikes (3 Ks), while DeSclafani is 32 for 47 (4 Ks).
9:19: Burnett escapes a hairy top of the fourth with a 3-6-1 double play off the bat of Joey Votto. Pedro Alvarez made a precise throw to Mercer to get the play started.
9:39: The Pirates challenge the back end of what they thought was a 1-6-3 double play, but replay confirms Angel Hernandez‘ initial call that Alvarez came off the bag to field Mercer’s relay throw.
9:58: Phillips lines out to McCutchen with a runner on to end the top of the sixth. That figures to be the end of Burnett’s night, with his 110 pitches ranking as his second-most this season. He allowed at least one hit in every inning, but struck out five against one walk.
10:09: Francisco Cervelli pokes DeSclafani’s 93rd pitch through the right side to score McCutchen. 4-2 Pirates in the sixth and Burke Badenhop is warming in the Reds bullpen.
10:16: It’s tied 4-4. FRAZIER, clearly upset about not getting the all-caps treatment earlier, takes out his frustration on a center-cut Caminero heater. FRAZIER’S 24th home run followed Votto’s leadoff single, which Josh Harrison allowed to skip to the Clemente Wall.
10:32: Antonio Bastardo tidies up Caminero’s clutter with a pair of swinging strikeouts. Stretch time at PNC.
10:46: Tony Watson did that thing he does. On to the bottom of the eighth, with J.J. Hoover in for the Reds.
10:52: Goodness…Phillips may have lost some range over the years, but those hands still work. He stabs Neil Walker‘s one-hopper and flips a behind-the-back feed to Suarez to start a 4-6-3 double play.
10:58: With two on and two out, Cervelli lines a ball to deep right-center, but Byrd takes a perfect route and pulls in the potential go-ahead double. Pirates had three baserunners in the eighth against Hoover, but it remains tied.
11:10: Mercer has been a busy man tonight. He ranges to his backhand and makes an off-balance throw to get Ivan DeJesus, Jr., by a half-step. Mark Melancon navigates two singles for a scoreless ninth.
11:18: First and third with two outs in the bottom of the ninth. McCutchen up to the plate. Crowd standing…
11:23: Ryan Mattheus retires McCutchen on a high fly to right. Crowd seated. We’ll play at least one extra.
11:34: For some reason, Hamilton stopped running on a steal attempt with one out. He gets tagged out between first and second, wasting the Reds’ threat in the 10th.
11:58: In his second inning of relief, Vance Worley puts the first two batters on but sits the next three down. Mercer, Sean Rodriguez and Harrison due up in the bottom of the 11th against new father Aroldis Chapman.
12:08 a.m.: The ball does not seem to be carrying tonight for those not named FRAZIER. Mercer and Polanco both hammered fastballs from Chapman to center, but both died in Hamilton’s glove on the warning track. To the 12th!
12:20: Wild swings of fortune in the bottom of the 12th: McCutchen’s leadoff drive off Pedro Villarreal hits the top of the wall, followed by an intentional walk to Walker. Kang then lines out to Votto, who catches Walker wandering off the bag for a double play.
12:28: 5-4 Reds in the 13th. The thick air was no match for that missile from Phillips, as he mashed a 2-1 inner-half fastball from Rob Scahill into the left-field bleachers.
12:42: And the home side goes quickly in the bottom half. Reds take the series and send the Pirates to their fifth loss in six games. Story to come …
Aroldis Chapman, the Reds’ flamethrowing closer, will be available after a paternity leave. — GETTY