Cincinnati @ Pittsburgh preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 28, 2019 ) Cincinnati 4, Pittsburgh 2

The Cincinnati Reds arrived in Pittsburgh looking to put an end to a lengthy swoon at PNC Park and needed 27 innings to accomplish that goal. After halting an 11-game slide with their first victory in the Steel City since June 2018, the Reds can earn their first road series win against the Pirates in more than two years with a triumph in Sunday's season finale.

Cincinnati lost in 15 innings in the series opener to extend its skid in Pittsburgh before ending the hex behind José Iglesias, who had three hits and collected his second RBI on a tiebreaking double in the 12th inning. Tucker Barnhart set a career high with his 11th home run as the Reds ended a five-game overall losing streak. Saturday's loss was only the Pirates' fourth in 22 home meetings with Cincinnati since dropping two of three from Aug. 1-3, 2017. Rookie Kevin Newman, who homered twice and drove in five runs on Friday, brings a five-game hitting streak into Sunday's matchup.

TV: 3:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet-Pittsburgh

PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds RH Tyler Mahle (2-12, 5.34 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (7-8, 5.52)

Cincinnati's best-laid pitching plans were scuttled when illness led the team to push Trevor Bauer back from Saturday to Sunday before scratching him in favor of Mahle, who will hope to celebrate his 25th birthday by recording his first win since May 31. He lasted only 2 1/3 innings versus Milwaukee on Wednesday as he was battered for eight runs and seven hits, including three homers, to run his winless drought to 13 appearances. Mahle faced Pittsburgh in his season debut and tossed six scoreless innings.

Williams gave up three runs or fewer in 12 of his final 13 outings in 2018, but he will try to end a four-start winless drought in his last appearance of the year. He gave up only three hits (two homers) over five innings in a loss at Milwaukee last time out and also was taken deep twice by the Chicago Cus in his previous turn, when he was shelled for seven runs in 2 1/3 frames. Williams improved to 2-0 with a 1.50 ERA against the Reds this season by scattering three hits over six scoreless innings on Aug. 24.

WALK-OFFS

1. Reds RHP Ruben Alaniz notched his first career win and added an RBI single, becoming the first Cincinnati pitcher with a hit in his first at-bat since June 2015.

2. Pittsburgh RHP Keone Kela has allowed four hits over 10 straight scoreless appearances.

3. Cincinnati C Steven Baron exited Saturday's game after registering his first career RBI when an errant pickoff throw struck him in the face.

PREDICTION: Pirates 6, Reds 4