Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds Match Player Stats On Sep 17, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 17, 2017

CINCINNATI -- Eugenio Suarez and Scooter Gennett each hit two-run homers and Robert Stephenson pitched six shutout innings, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-2 victory on Sunday to complete a three-game sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park.

Stephenson (5-5) allowed one hit, walked three and struck out eight. Michael Lorenzen pitched a 1-2-3 ninth inning to earn his second save.

John Jaso homered for Pittsburgh (68-82), which has lost five straight. The Pirates finished the season 6-13 versus Cincinnati.

The Reds (66-84) swept the Pirates for the second time this season and for the first time at Great American Ball Park since 2015.

Cincinnati has spent 96 straight days in last place in the National League Central, but now trails the Pirates by only two games in the standings.

For the second straight game, there was a pitcher's duel in a ballpark that doesn't often lend itself to well-pitched games.

Pirates starter Gerrit Cole (11-11), who went winless in his first nine career starts against the Reds before beating them on Aug. 26, came into Sunday's start 1-7 with a 4.79 ERA against them.

Cole homered in his last start at Great American Ball Park. He doubled in the second inning on Sunday to put runners at second and third.

But Stephenson retired three straight batters to escape the only true jam he faced in his six innings.

Stephenson struck out four consecutive batters at one point, and Cole matched him pitch for pitch through five innings.

But Cincinnati teed off on Cole in the sixth.

Suarez put the Reds ahead 2-0 with his 26th home run following Jesse Winker's walk. After Joey Votto walked, Gennett launched his 25th home run, making the score 4-0.

Tucker Barnhart added an RBI triple off Daniel Hudson for the Reds' fifth run.

Jaso's two-run home run off Luke Farrell in the eighth was his 10th of the season.

NOTES: Reds RHP Drew Storen will undergo Tommy John surgery. Recovery could extend through the 2018 season. ... Reds CF Billy Hamilton was eligible to come off the disabled list on Sunday but did not. He is having the splint removed from his fractured hand and can resume baseball activity. ... Pirates C Francisco Cervelli (quadriceps) will meet with coaches and trainers on Monday to determine his status for the rest of the season. ... The Reds have five players with 25 or more home runs, tying a club record set in 1956.