Reds homer late, Bucs lose 8th straight Skenes start

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – For the eighth time in the last eight Paul Skenes starts, the Pirates lost. Friday night Skenes gave up twice as many runs in one inning than he had his entire career against Cincinnati in a 6-4 loss.

Reds pinch-hitter Noelvi Marte hit a 3-2 pitch off Mason Montgomery in the eighth inning into the left field stands for a two-run, and what turned into, game-winning homer. The bullpen had gone 12 scoreless innings this homestand.

Welcome Back Konnor

On his first swing returning from the right elbow strain, Konnor Griffin hit a fastball 108.9 mph, 435 feet to left field for his fifth home run and sixth Pirates leadoff home run of the season. Griffin, who finished the swing with a fancy bat twirl, said pregame he was able to keep his timing using the Trejekt machine (simulates MLB pitchers) and his work against live pitching in Florida during his rehab. He also homered in his only game action with AA Altoona on Wednesday. On the night, Griffin was 2-4 and on base three times.

HR 6^th

Marcell Ozuna hit his 7^th HR in the sixth inning (second in four games) and two batters later Esmerlyn Valdez hammered a pitch into the third level of the left field rotunda (414 feet) to tie the game. It was Valdez’s first MLB homer in a month.

Pirates are (19-13) when hitting two or more homers in a game

500

With five of six outs strikeouts from the last out of the second inning to the end of the fourth, Skenes became the fastest, in terms of starts, to reach 500 in Pirates history.

31 and on

With an infield single in the third inning Bryan Reynolds reached base for the 31^st consecutive game. He has 27 hits and 10 walks in June.

Late challenge

In baseball you have only two seconds to challenge a pitch call, after Reds second baseman Matt McLain was called out on strikes, he took a few steps down to first base and then challenged. The Pirates dugout complained it wasn’t in the time window and Don Kelly came out to argue, but the challenge was successful and instead of the first out, the walk loaded the bases in the second inning. The Reds would then score on consecutive sacrifice flies.

Up Next

RHP Jared Jones survived a scare with a ball off his elbow but remains the starter Saturday afternoon. The Pirates righty will make his sixth start looking for his second win with a 5.75 ERA. RHP Chase Burns (9-1, 2.00 ERA) for Cincinnati with Dan Zangrilli starting the North Shore Tavern Leadoff Show at 3:00p with first pitch at 4:05 on 93.7 The Fan.