CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Cincinnati Reds swept the Pirates Wednesday afternoon in a 5-0 shutout.
The game, not nearly as bad as the night before one hit shutout, had equally bad performance from both the pitchers and hitters on the Pirates side.
Starting pitcher Zack Duke was torched early and often allowing all five earned runs and nine of ten hits in his five innings of pitching. Duke would give up two home runs in the game, the first to Joey Votto in the first inning, which dusted off the bases for the early 2-0 Red?s lead. The second home run came off a solo shot by Drew Stubbs in the fourth inning to put the game at 5-0.
The Pirate bats were weak at best getting only four hits off of Cincinnati?s Homer Bailey. Bailey would have a complete game shutout and improve his ERA from 7.24 to 5.66. Much like last night pitching, Bailey would not walk a single batter in his nine innings pitched. A lot can be said about that statistic.
For the series, the Pirates got only one run on ten hits, which included just two extra-base hits. The Reds bullpen would pitch just two innings in the series, which all came from Monday?s game.
The sweep of the Pirates continues the four games losing streak and put a damper on what was a great start for the
Pirates home stand. As of last Thursday the Pirates had just completed a sweep of the Cubs and moved within two games of .500. Now after the series with the Cardinals and Reds the Pirates are six games under five hundred and are next to last in their division.
The Pirates have tomorrow off before embarking on a five game road trip starting in Chicago.
