The good news is that Andrew McCutchen didn’t miss a game despite being hit in the back of the neck with a pitch. He also homered in his first time up. The good news stops there as Johnny Cueto continued his mastery over the Pirates.
Cueto allowed just that solo homer and two other hits over six innings of one run ball. He struck out six and walked two. The Reds chipped their way to single runs in three innings off of Jeff Karstens over his five innings. Cincy tied it on a two out RBI single from Paul Janish in the second. Ramon Hernandez gave the Reds the lead with a sac fly in the fourth. A ground out from Juan Francisco in the fifth inning put the Reds up 3-1.
With Karstens out of the game, the flood gates opened in a six run seventh. Sean Gallagher who pitched a scoreless sixth allowed the lead off hitter to reach and was pulled for Wil Ledezma. Joey Votto and Jonny Gomes hit consecutive doubles to bring in two runs. Laynce Nix tripled, scoring Gomes and chasing Ledezma who recorded one out. Steven Jackson was in. After walking Hernandez, Janish smoked a homer that scored three runs.
Okay – two more Bucco highlights. Jeff Clement hit a pinch hit two run homer in the bottom of the seventh to pull Pittsburgh to within 9-3 and Pedro Alvarez hit a solo homer in the 9th.
The Good
Getting Cutch back.
Clement swinging with authority since returning from AAA.
The Bad
The ugly top of the seventh. Four extra base hits for the Reds in one inning.
The Rest
Cueto is 9-2 against Pittsburgh. Karstens is winless in four decisions against Cincinnati in his career.
That was the first four RBI game of Janish’s career.
Juan Francisco had the second three hit game of his career.
Seven of the eight Red position starters scored except Brandon Phillips.
