PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Able to play as he appeals a suspension for inciting a brawl against the Cardinals Saturday, Reds outfielder Nick Castellanos hit a deep home run off Sam Howard to break a 2-2 tie in the 7th and Cincinnati beat the Pirates 5-3.
Castellanos would score after a double an inning later off Michael Feliz, who gave up two runs.
Making contact was an issue again for the Pirates and it wasn’t just Gregory Polanco. Every starter, but pitcher JT Brubaker, struck out at least once. Bucs struck out 15 times in all.
“DeLeon used his fastball effectively,” said manager Derek Shelton. “Located his fastball and used it later in counts. The middle part of the game it looks like we were late to hit. Our move to get ready to hit were a little bit late. I think that’s why the fastball got on us a little bit.”
Pirates got a couple of runners on to start the third, but DeLeon struck out Evans, Reynolds and Moran to end the inning.
Solo HRs
Pirates would get their runs off a couple of near back-to-back home runs in the first. Phillip Evans hit one 445 feet off DeLeon and Colin Moran would hit a second homer in as many days to make it 2-0.
Bryan Reynolds hit a 9th inning homer with no one on to account for their third and last run.
Brubaker Back Home
Bucs starter JT Brubaker lasted 4 innings (82 pitches-50 strikes) giving up a run on three hits with four walks and six strikeouts. Brubaker said he got ahead, but then stopped being aggressive across the plate.
“I thought the stuff was good,” Shelton said. “I think the thing that was his downfall is he had too many deep counts. I thought the breaking ball was good until we got to two strikes and then the execution wasn’t as sharp as we wanted.”
“Overall not a bad outing, something we can definitely learn from and grow from. He’s got good stuff. We just have to make sure with two strikes we effectively use it in the zone.”
Brubaker said it was pretty special to get his first major league hit, especially with his parents there.
“A ton of fun,” Brubaker said of how much his parents enjoy watching him. “I haven’t seen anything yet, I’m sure there is some stuff out there.”
Yes, there is. A clip of Brubaker’s father acknowledging his first hit with a ‘love tap’ on his mom.
“They’re a loud, partying crew,” Brubaker said.
“They love the game, that’s what it comes down to. They love the game of baseball. Whether it’s watching me or just watching the game in general. They are there to have a good time and enjoy some good baseball.”
Oviedo Bounce back
After giving up the tying home run to Mike Moustakas, a 430 foot shot to right, the 21-year-old who never pitched higher than A ball, struck out the next four (Nick Senzel, Jonathan India, Tucker Barnhart, Alex Blandino).
“Execution of pitches, execution of timing of his delivery,” Shelton said. “It was really good. To go out and throw two innings and essentially get through that lineup with the exception of the one homer. Definitely a step in the right direction for a kid like that. It was good.”
“He’s got some electric stuff,” Brubaker said. “What was it a high of 96 with the heater and dropping in a 70-something mile-an-hour curveball. That’s a good spread right there that it’s tough for hitter to hit, let alone adjust to what’s coming.”
Oviedo brought over in a trade after being a Rule 5 pick, and the Pirates must follow the Rule 5 rules and keep him on the roster all season.
Up Next
Trevor Cahill makes his Pirates debut against his one-time teammate Wade Miley with a 6:40 starting time in Cincinnati on 93.7 The Fan.