PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Bailey Falter has now won three games on each of which he hasn’t given up a run. Tuesday night the Pirates were able to get him a run and that was all he needed in a 1-0 win over Cincinnati.
Falter would give up four hits in seven innings, walking none and striking out five throwing 55 of his 79 pitches for strikes to end the Pirates four-game losing streak. The lefty was able to work out of a couple of jams, allowing a game-opening triple, but stranding TJ Friedl. Santiago Espinal double to lead off the fourth, but got no further. Former Pirate Connor Joe led off the sixth with a single, but was doubled up on a strikeout, caught stealing.
"Just execution of pitches, honestly," Falter said. "Especially after the leadoff triple, I was like, 'If this guy scores, that's the only one they're gonna get.' Just try to minimize damage as much as possible."
Falter has allowed one earned run in 23.2 innings in May (0.38 ERA). He is one of seven Pirates pitchers since at least 1893 with 23.2 innings and one or zero runs allowed in a four-start span within a single season. The list includes Francisco Liriano and Steve Blass.
"Just coincidence, I'd say. I've got a job to do every five or six days, so I just try to go out there, compete my ass off and do the best I can to get these guys back in the dugout and score some runs."
Dennis Santana came on for a 1-2-3 eighth inning, his first action in six days. A day after giving up two runs, David Bednar gave up a lead-off single in the ninth, but got a double play and Elly De La Cruz to fly out for his first save since April 30.
The only Pirates run came in the sixth as Oneil Cruz drew a one-out walk and stole second base. After Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch, Bryan Reynolds lined a single to right to drive in the only run of the game.
The Pirates have scored two runs this series and yet each team has won a game.
Master thief
Cruz stole a pair of bases regaining the MLB lead from White Sox centerfielder Luis Robert. Cruz now has 19 and has only been caught once.
Up Next
Final game of the series with Cincinnati with Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (2-3, 3.02 ERA) facing Reds righty Brady Singer (5-2, 5.01 ERA). It’s an afternoon game on 100.1 FM and AM 1020 KDKA with Paul Alexander starting the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 11:35a and first pitch on KDKA Radio at 12:35p.