CINCINNATI — Jake Fraley came off the bench to blet a three-run homer and Kevin Newman delivered a two-run shot against his former team to give the Cincinnati Reds a 6-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
Nick Lodolo overcame a challenging first inning where he threw 35 pitches as Cincinnati ended an eight-losing streak to the Pirates that dated to last season, when both teams lost 100 games.
The Reds took a 3-1 lead in the first inning on a solo shot from Jonathan India and Newman's round tripper that caromed off the façade of the second deck in left field.
India leadoff homer was the eighth of his career, pulling him within one of Reds Hall of Famer Barry Larkin and two short of matching the club record set by Kal Daniels.
Fraley’s second career pinch-hit homer came in the sixth off right-hander Chase De Jong. The blast reached the visitors’ bullpen down the right-field line and broke open the one-run game.
Lodolo (1-0) saw five innings of work and recorded 109 pitches. The Pirates reached the second-year lefty for seven hits and two runs. He finished with nine strikeouts and two walks.
Lodolo retired seven of the last eight batters he faced. Ian Gibaut, Buck Farmer and Reiver Sanmartin combined to retire the final 12 Pirates batters.
Pirates pitcher Rich Hill (0-1) began his 19th season with his 12th major league team. The 43-year old allowed three runs and three hits with seven strikeouts and two walks in five innings.
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