Pirates Storm All the Way Back for Thrilling Win Over Reds

PITTSBURGH — Joey Bart and Bryan De La Cruz helped the Pittsburgh Pirates erase a five-run deficit in a 6-5 comeback-win over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park on Friday night.

Recap

Tyler Stephenson opened the scoring off of Bailey Falter with a two-out solo home run in the first inning. Falter followed with two scoreless innings but ran into trouble in the fourth.

The Reds (62-67) struck four times in the fourth inning. With runners on second and third and nobody out, Ty France hit a sacrifice fly to center field. Stuart Fairchild then laid down a perfect bunt on a successful squeeze play to put Cincinnati up 3-0. Two batters later, Santiago Espinal ripped a two-out single to left field. He was thrown out on a great play by third baseman Jared Triolo trying to advance 90 feet on the throw home.

Starting in the bottom of the fifth, the Pirates (61-67) mounted a furious comeback.

De La Cruz doubled home Joey Bart for Pittsburgh’s first run of the game and set the Pirates up with second and third and nobody out. Billy McKinney followed by bringing home a run with a groundout to second base.

Triolo then ripped an RBI-single up the middle before Isiah Kiner-Falefa brought the Pirates within a run on a run-scoring groundout. 

The following inning, Bart tied the game with a base hit to center, his second hit of the night. After giving the Pirates their first run of the game, De La Cruz then gave the Pirates their first lead of the game on a sacrifice fly, 

Dennis Santana (3-1) got his first win with the Pirates and David Bednar converted his 23rd save on the season by stranding a leadoff double. McKinney made a sliding catch in left field on an Elly De La Cruz liner with runners on first and third to end the game. 

Key Moment

The Reds put runners on the corners with two outs against Aroldis Chapman in the eighth but the left-hander struck out Fairchild to keep the Pirates’ lead intact.

Star of the Game

Bart started the Pirates’ rally in the fifth with a base hit and evened the score with his RBI single the next inning. He finished 2 for 4 with two runs scored and an RBI.

Stat to Know

Prior to Stephenson’s home run in the top of the first inning, Falter had only allowed one home run over his last seven starts dating back to June 24. 

Noteworthy

• Oneil Cruz hit a double and drew a walk. He’s reached base in 15-straight games.

Up Next

The Pirates and Reds will continue their four-game series on Saturday night. Jake Woodford (0-5, 6.67 ERA) will start for Pittsburgh while the Reds have yet to announce a starting pitcher. First pitch: 6:40 ET.

Additionally, the Pirates will officially induct three new members to the team’s Hall of Fame on Saturday – Barry Bonds, Jim Leyland and Manny Sanguillen.