CINCINNATI — A go-ahead sacrifice fly in the eighth inning by Oneil Cruz proved to be the difference as the Pittsburgh Pirates won 5-4 and spoiled the Opening Day festivities for the Cincinnati Reds on Thursday.
This year the MLB is utilizing new rules that are designed to speed the game up, however the game still lasted 3 hours, 2 minutes. There were a combined 15 walks and 26 strikeouts which contributed to the game’s length.
There were two pitch-clock violations on Thursday, one committed by Reds starter Hunter Greene in the third and the other by Pirates starter Mitch Keller in the fourth. Both at-bats resulted in home runs.
Greene committed the Reds’ first clock violation turning an 0-2 count to 1-2 against Cruz leading off the third. Cruz hit a tying, solo homer on a 3-2 pitch.
Cruz's go-ahead sacrifice fly also came on a 3-2 pitch.
Keller’s pitch clock violation occurred in the fourth on 1-2 pitch to Reds third baseman Spencer Steer, who wound up hitting a solo homer opposite field to cut the Pirates lead to 4-2.
Keller struck out eight in 4 1/3 innings pitched.
Jason Vosler, a non-roster invitee to spring training, had a two-run triple to tie it up in the fifth. Vosler made the start at first base, making him the first player other than Joey Votto to start at that position for the Reds on opening day since 2008
Greene, 23, became the youngest pitcher to start for the Reds on opening day since Frank Pastore in 1980. He stuck out eight and walked three in 3 1/3 innings.
Fernando Cruz replaced Greene and allowed three runs on two walks and a wild pitch, all coming with the bases loaded.
Reds pitchers combined to issue nine free passes.
The Reds last scoring threat came in the eighth, with the tying run on base, but Stuart Fairchild was caught stealing resulting in an inning-ending double play. After a video review, the call was upheld.
Reds LHP Nick Lodolo who went 4-0 with a 2.16 ERA in his five starts during spring training, will face 43-year-old LHP Rich Hill who will be making his Pirates debut on Saturday.
Pirates 5, Reds 4
Pittsburgh Cincinnati
ab r h bi ab r h bi
O.Cruz ss 2 2 1 2 India 2b 4 2 2 0
Reynolds lf 4 0 1 1 Friedl cf 4 0 0 0
McCutchen dh2 0 1 1 Fraley dh 4 1 2 0
Santana 1b 4 0 0 0 Stephenson c 4 0 1 0
Smith-Njigba rf5 0 1 0 Vosler 1b-3b 4 0 1 2
Castro 2b 0 0 0 0 Myers rf-1b 3 0 1 0
Hayes 3b 4 0 0 0 Steer 3b 2 1 1 1
Suwinski cf-rf 4 0 0 0 Fairchild pr-lf 0 0 0 0
Bae 2b-cf 3 2 2 0 Benson lf-rf 4 0 0 0
Hedges c 2 1 0 0 Barrero ss 4 0 0 0
Totals 30 5 6 4 Totals 33 4 8 3
Pittsburgh 001 300 010 — 5
Cincinnati 100 120 000 — 4
DP–Pittsburgh 2, Cincinnati 1. LOB–Pittsburgh 9, Cincinnati 8. 2B–Bae (1), India (1). 3B–Vosler (1). HR–O.Cruz (1), Steer (1). SB–Bae 2 (2). SF–O.Cruz (1). S–Hedges (1).
IP H R ER BB SO
Pittsburgh
Keller 4 2/3 6 4 4 4 8
Moreta 1 0 0 0 2 3
Zastryzny W,1-0 1 1/3 0 0 0 0 1
Holderman H,1 1 1 0 0 0 1
Bednar S,1-1 1 1 0 0 0 2
Cincinnati
Greene 3 1/3 5 3 3 3 8
F.Cruz 1-3 0 1 1 3 0
Young 1 2/3 0 0 0 1 1
Law 1 2-3 1 0 0 0 1
Farmer L,0-1 1 0 1 1 1 1
Gibaut 1 0 0 0 1 0
Moreta pitched to 2 batters in the 6th. WP–F.Cruz. Umpires–Home, Mark Wegner; First, Bruce Dreckman; Second, Stu Scheuwater; Third, Malachi Moore.
T–3:02. A–44,063 (43,891).
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