PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Maybe it was help from the rain, as the Pirates came back to beat the Reds 9-4 and salvage the last game of the three-game series.
After Ryan O’Hearn and Tyler Callihan homered, reliever Carmen Mlodzinski worked through traffic with a one-run lead, stranding four runners in the seventh and eighth inning, then the rain came with one out in the bottom of the eighth.
Did O’Hearn do something to stay locked in during the delay?
“I completely changed all my clothes, and socks, and everything because I was soaking wet,” O’Hearn said. “And then sat here, had a coffee and a donut.”When the Pirates returned, Cincinnati reliever Pierce Johnson walked the first two batters, O’Hearn added a three-run home run (his first multi-home run game as a Pirate and third of his career) and Esmerlyn Valdez hit another, his third home run in his last three games.
Dennis Santana finished the game in the ninth, as the rain returned, in five batters.
“Obviously, it's been kind of a tough series for us,” O’Hearn said. “But to come away with a win today and save the series was good. The rain delay, felt good to put up some runs there. (Valdez) with a big homer too. Got a win. Just keep it moving.”
The win gets the Bucs back to .500 at 41-41 before a Philadelphia and Washington road trip.
Magic
It wasn’t just a home run, but the seventh-longest home run in PNC Park history at 461 feet.
“It feels great,” Valdez said through interpreter and Pirates coach Stephen Morales. “I think it’s one of the longest home runs of my career.”
“No, I did not know it was that far. But I definitely felt like I hit it really good.”
Along with the home run, Valdez started the scoring on Sunday hitting a ground-rule double to start the scoring in the second inning.
“I think he's a good hitter,” said Pirates manager Don Kelly. “He's not just going up there trying to hit homers, he's a good hitter. He got out in front of the breaking ball, hit the ground roll double, got the base hit up the middle, took the walk, and then when he gets a pitch out over the plate that he can drive, he certainly has the power to do that, but I just think he's overall a good hitter.”
“He’s crazy,” said Callihan. “I saw it in Triple-A, I see it BP, he has power like I’ve never seen before. He can go oppo to the river. I’m not shocked it’s going to happen at some point.”
Reds revenge
A 412 (feet) shot for Callihan the batter after Valdez made it 4-0. The former Reds draft pick watched as it sailed to the top row over the Clemente Wall for a three-run homer.
“I mean every homer’s nice,” Callihan said. “Obviously, yeah, it felt nice to do it against them, but no, just the same as any other team.”
Back in front
After Cincinnati scored the next four, O’Hearn blasted a 421-foot HR with one-out in the fifth to give the Pirates the lead back 5-4.
Keller OK
After giving up three earned over six innings in his last start, more of the same from Mitch Keller. The final line was 6 innings, 5 hits, 4 runs, 3 earned, a walk and 4 strikeouts.
“I thought it was overall pretty good,” Keller said. “Again, couple pitches here and there that I wish I had back. Overall, pretty good. Defense made some great plays, double plays. And man, they were swinging it. That was a fun game to watch, for sure.”
3 missed opps
Three times the Pirates had the bases loaded and scored NO runs.
- 4th inning-an error by the second baseman was sandwiched around singles. Heading to the top of the order—Konnor Griffin grounded into a fielders choice at home, Brandon Lowe struck out and Bryan Reynolds grounded out. Bucs got nothing.
- 6th inning-after a pair of strikeouts, three straight walks before O’Hearn flew out.
- 7th inning-three walks to start the inning, Henry Davis popped out and Griffin hit into a 5-2 double play.
Notes
- With a walk in the sixth inning, Bryan Reynolds extended his on-base streak to 33 games
- The Pirates scored 4 times in the second and four in the eighth, in each inning every Bucs out was by strikeout
- 21-year-old INF Yordany De Los Santos tripled for his 43rd RBI in High A Greensboro. He also stole his 23rd base.
Up Next
A remarkable trip when thinking about the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence, the Pirates go to Philadelphia starting Monday through Thursday and then play the 4th of July weekend in Washington DC. RHP Braxton Ashcraft leads off the series (7-3, 3.07 ERA) against veteran RHP Aaron Nola (3-4, 5.58 ERA) with the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 5:45 and first pitch at 6:40 on 93.7 The Fan Monday.
“It's the same mindset that we have been day at a time, and I know it's cliche, but we need to find a way,” Kelly said. “(Saturday), that was a tough loss, and to show up (Sunday) and put that behind us and find a way to battle. The Reds came back, tied us 4-4. O'Hearn, with a big hit, and to add on late, it is a day-by-day thing. We can't get too far ahead of ourselves. We just need to take it one step at a time and dominate each day.”
The highlight pitching matchup is Wednesday night—Paul Skenes against Zach Wheeler.
Pirates get last game of series and homestand
Pirates get last game of series and homestand
