Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Match Player Stats On Sep 15, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 15, 2017

CINCINNATI -- Zack Cozart homered twice, Scott Schebler and Joey Votto each added a solo shot, and Homer Bailey allowed a run over five-plus innings, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 4-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a three-game series Friday night at Great American Ball Park.

Bailey (5-8), who returned this season after missing most of the past two seasons with injuries, walked two and struck out seven, helping the Reds (64-84) improve to 11-6 versus the Pirates this season.

The Pirates (68-80) have lost three straight games.

Pittsburgh starter Chad Kuhl (7-11) allowed a career-high four home runs through 4 2/3 innings. He walked three and struck out six.

The Pirates failed to cash in on a couple scoring chances against the Reds bullpen.

Pittsburgh loaded the bases against Bailey with two outs in the sixth but Michael Lorenzen got Elias Diaz to ground out to first to end the inning.

The Pirates had another opportunity against Lorenzen in the eighth with runners on first and second with one out. The Reds turned to closer Raisel Iglesias, who struck out consecutive batters to end the threat.

Iglesias, who leads the major leagues with 11 saves of at least 1 2/3 innings, allowed a run-scoring triple by Adam Frazier in the ninth but nailed down his 27th save.

Votto crushed a Kuhl pitch into the right-field seats for his 35th home run, putting Cincinnati ahead 1-0 with two outs in the first inning.

The Pirates tied the score 1-1 in the third when they loaded the bases with one out and Jordan Luplow delivered a sacrifice fly.

Cozart put the Reds back ahead with solo home runs in consecutive at-bats against Kuhl. In the third, he belted his 21st home run on an 0-1 pitch. Cozart added his 22nd home run leading off the fifth on a 2-1 offering, making the score 3-1.

It was Cozart's fifth career multi-home run game, third this season. He has five homers in his past nine games.

With two outs in the fifth, Schebler made the score 4-1 with his 27th home run, the fourth of the night for Cincinnati.

Kuhl hadn't allowed more than two home runs in a game in any of his starts this season. He gave up one home run in the entire months of April and July.

NOTES: Pirates C Francisco Cervelli still hopes to return this season. He has been on the disabled list since Aug. 26 with left quad irritation. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton, who is on the disabled list with a fractured left thumb, also hopes to return this season. He is wearing a splint for a couple more days, then will be re-evaluated. ... Reds 2B Scooter Gennett has not played since leaving Tuesday's game in St. Louis with left hand inflammation. Jose Peraza started and went 1-for-3 with a walk in his place. Gennett was scheduled to take batting practice Friday.