Final: Pirates 5, Reds 4

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by • Game previews •

JOSH
CINCINNATI — Looking ahead to first pitch …

Game: Pirates (59-42) vs. Cincinnati Reds (46-54), 7:10 p.m., Great American Ball Park

Pitchers: LHP Jeff Locke (5-6, 4.15) vs. RHP Michael Lorenzen (3-5, 4.58)

TV, radio: Root Sports, 93.7 The Fan

Online: Gameday | Multimedia | Media notes

Stay tuned to this file for any updates related to Major League Baseball’s trading deadline at 4 p.m. I’m headed down to the visiting clubhouse right now.

Update 3:52 p.m.: The Reds have left Jay Bruce out of their lineup, always eyebrow-raising for a player being heavily discussed in trade speculation, but word from the home side is that it’s not a trade-related move. We’ll see.

4 p.m.: That’s the deadline, though it’s always worth remembering that deals often become known well after the clock ticks. This is only when the commissioner’s office needs to be notified.

4:03: Joakim Soria is in the clubhouse. He’ll wear No. 38. The Pirates still need to make a roster move for Soria to be activated. That should happen soon. Here’s what he had to say.

4:13: Bruce is stretching with the Reds out on the field. Not going anywhere.

5:50: The scene in the Pirates’ clubhouse earlier this afternoon was an interesting one. Like many of you, the Pirates were watching MLB Network, curious about trades around the league. It’s an uneasy day for the athletes, no question. Soria and Clint Hurdle still hadn’t spoken about his role, though the manager shed some light for us. He essentially said that Soria and Watson are both set-up men now. If a couple of lefties are due up in the seventh inning, for instance, don’t be surprised to see Hurdle go with Watson and save Soria for the eighth. But Watson still figures to get much of the eighth-inning work. … Although their respective returns to the lineup remain weeks away, it is clear that Josh Harrison and Jordy Mercer are recovering nicely from their ailments. Both took infield practice at Great American Ballpark this afternoon. Mercer is still clearly favoring his left knee but felt good enough to field grounders without any sign of discomfort. Harrison clearly is feeling better, fielding and throwing with ease.

8:09: I’ve been slacking off. Apologies. Lots of trades and Neal Huntington just spoke for a while about the new-look Pirates. We’re in the top of the third inning and things aren’t looking so great for the Pirates, who trail the Reds, 3-1. Here’s how the scoring took place: In the top of the first, Gregory Polanco singled and stole second, and then Starling Marte was hit by a pitch. Then, after Andrew McCutchen and Aramis Ramirez were retired, Jung Ho Kang hit a double to center that scored Polanco. The Reds responded with three runs in the second off Locke. Ivan De Jesus hit a two-run homer and Jason Bourgeois produced an RBI groundout. Locke avoided more trouble when he forced the Todd Father, Todd Frazier, to ground out to short with the bases loaded. And now we’re in the bottom of the third, so hopefully this catches you up.

8:21: Reds 3, Pirates 2, 4th: Pedro Alvarez knocks in Kang with an RBI single. Kang has two doubles already tonight. What a player this guy is. My goodness.

8:34: Pirates 3, Reds 3, 5th: Cutch goes deep to right field, and we’re tied. He loves hitting here.

9:08: Pirates 5, Reds 3, 6th: Wonderful slide by Kang and he scores on a wild pitch. He’s got three doubles, by the way. Marte then hits an RBI single to score another run, though Travis Ishikawa was thrown out by a mile at home on the same play. Never should have been sent.

9:09: Pirates 5, Reds 4, 6th: Marlon Byrd takes Jared Hughes deep, and it’s a one-run game.

9:41: It wasn’t pretty. At all. But Soria survives a bases loaded jam to preserve the lead. He needed 35 pitches.

10:25: A stunning ending, thanks to Marte. He made the throw and the catch of the year in the same inning to save the Pirates. Wow.

CINCINNATI, OH - JULY 30: Official game baseballs sit in a basket ready for use before a game between the Cincinnati Reds and the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on July 30, 2015 in Cincinnati, Ohio. (Photo by Jamie Sabau/Getty Images)

Official baseballs for Thursday’s game in Cincinnati. — GETTY