Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart scores in front of Cincinnati Reds catcher Tyler Stephenson in the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, Aug. 23, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (AP Photo/Barry Reeger)
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Bryan De La Cruz scored two runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 6-5 on Friday night.
The Pirates had lost nine consecutive games by one point since the July 30 transfer deadline before overturning a five-point deficit to beat the struggling Reds for the sixth time in eight meetings this season.
“I’m really happy about it, we’ve lost too many,” said Pittsburgh manager Derek Shelton after his team went 20-26 in games with only one point between them. “But it was good. They kept fighting.”
Joey Bart and Rowdy Tellez each had two goals for Pittsburgh, which has a 5-3 record since a 10-game losing streak dropped it to last place in the NL Central and effectively ended its playoff chances.
De La Cruz, acquired from Miami to rejuvenate an offense that struggled for much of the year, is slowly finding his place with the Pirates. The right fielder has a .351 batting average (13-of-37) with eight RBIs in his last 10 games.
“There were a few problems at the beginning,” De La Cruz said through an interpreter. “I didn’t hit the ball the way I wanted, but now I’m in a good position.”
Dennis Santana (3-1) pitched two scoreless innings as a relief pitcher. David Bednar made his 23rd save when left fielder Billy McKinney grabbed a ball from Elly De La Cruz with two on base and two outs in the ninth inning.
Tyler Stephenson hit his 17th home run of the season for Cincinnati. Santiago Espinal had three hits for the Reds, but was also thrown out at second base in the seventh inning when he attempted to advance to center field on a fly ball – one of a few errors by Cincinnati.
Cincinnati’s struggling starting lineup suffered another setback Friday when the club placed Andrew Abbott on the 15-day injured list with a strained left shoulder. Reliever Buck Farmer started in Abbott’s place, and Farmer, Sam Moll and Tony Santillan held the Pirates hitless for four innings.
Alan Busenitz, who was supposed to take Abbott’s place on the roster, wasn’t so lucky. He allowed a leadoff single to Bart in the fifth inning and the floodgates opened. Bart scored on a double from De La Cruz as part of a comeback that eventually brought the Pirates within 5-4.
Pittsburgh took the lead in the sixth when Oneil Cruz led off with a double and scored on an RBI single by Bart. Tellez followed with a hit-and-run single that moved Bart to third base, and Bart jogged home on De La Cruz’s sacrifice fly to Justin Wilson (1-3).
Pittsburgh has had trouble holding leads in close games lately, but Santana went two innings with ease and Chapman escaped a two-on, two-out situation in the eighth by striking out Stuart Fairchild.
Bednar, who had allowed at least one run in seven of his last nine appearances, allowed a leadoff double to Will Benson and walked Jonathan India with two outs before McKinney’s deft catch gave Pittsburgh a sigh of relief.
“He stayed in attack mode,” Shelton said of Bednar. “I think in the past we’ve seen him when guys get on base, maybe he was a little hesitant. Today was a little bit like the David Bednar we’re used to, where he just stayed right after it, and it shows he was right after Elly.”
Pirates starter Bailey Falter allowed five runs in five innings, including four in a sloppy fourth. Shelton stuck with Falter in the fifth inning. The left-hander responded by throwing a scoreless run that kept the Pirates within striking distance before the offense took off against an overwhelmed Cincinnati bullpen.
TRAINING ROOM
Reds: RHP Hunter Greene (right elbow soreness) is expected to rejoin the team this weekend after having his elbow examined in Los Angeles. … Cincinnati also placed C Austin Wynns (right shoulder) on the 60-day injured list.
Next
Jake Woodford (0-5, 6.67 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh on Saturday. The Reds have not yet announced a starter. Before the game, the Pirates will induct manager Jim Leyland, outfielder Barry Bonds and catcher Manny Sanguillén into the club’s Hall of Fame.
