Jared Triolo’s pinch-hit three-run homer in the seventh inning Sunday gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 4-2 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds in the first game of a doubleheader.
Alika Williams added an RBI single for the Pirates, who have won two of their last three games and turned the second game Sunday into the deciding game of the series.
Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller allowed two runs, one of them earned, and five hits in six innings, with seven strikeouts and three walks. He got his second straight no-decision and remains in search of his first win since June 28.
Pirates left-hander Angel Perdomo (3-2) pitched a scoreless seventh to earn the win. Right-hander David Bednar pitched the ninth for his 24th save.
Matt McLain hit an RBI double and Christian Encarnacion-Strand had an RBI single for the Reds, who have lost nine of 11 not long after a road series victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers.
Cincinnati starter Brandon Williamson pitched 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run and two hits, with six strikeouts and two walks. He was 3-1 over his previous four starts.
Reds left-hander Alex Young (4-1) gave up two runs in one inning.
In the fourth for the Reds, McLain led off with an infield single. Two outs later, Joey Votto walked. Encarnacion-Strand drove in McLain with a single to center for a 1-0 Reds lead.
Cincinnati added another in the fifth. Will Benson opened by reaching on a ball popped to shallow left field, where Williams misplayed it for an error. Benson stole second. Stuart Fairchild grounded out. Benson scored on McLain’s double to the wall in right making it 2-0.
After the Pirates’ Ke’Bryan Hayes opened the first with a single, Williamson set down 12 in a row.
Henry Davis became Pittsburgh’s second baserunner when he walked to lead off the fifth. One out later, Davis went to second on a wild pitch and to third on Alfonso Rivas’ groundout. Williams brought Davis home with a single to center to cut the deficit to 2-1.
The Pirates took the lead in the seventh. Liover Peguero walked, chasing reliever Lucas Sims for Young. Peguero went to second on Rivas’ sacrifice bunt. Pinch hitter Endy Rodriguez walked and Triolo followed with his first major league homer, and Pittsburgh’s third hit overall, for a 4-2 lead.
–Field Level Media
