Keller Gets Rocked, Pirates Drop Series to Reds With Loss on Sunday

[ASFN Admin]

You must be registered for see images attach

Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Mitch Keller throws to the plate during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Sunday, July 23, 2023, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)

Mitch Keller lasted only two innings while his mound opponent was sharp as the Pirates were pummeled 10-2 by the Reds at Great American Ballpark on Sunday afternoon.

Scoring Plays​

Bottom 1st, 3-0 CIN: Mitch Keller (6-8) hung a 1-2 breaking ball to Sal Stewart, who hit a 420-foot solo home run to left field. The Reds (53-58) tacked on two more, one when center fielder Jhostynxon Garcia had trouble tracking a fly ball to center which gave Tyler Stephenson an RBI double. Nathaniel Lowe followed with an RBI single to right.

Bottom 2nd, 4-0 CIN: Keller made another mistake by leaving a sinker down the middle to former Pirate Ke’Bryan Hayes, who sent a solo shot 429 feet to left-center.

Bottom 3rd, 7-0 CIN: The Reds loaded the bases with no outs off Keller, who was lifted in favor of Noah Murdock. Matt McLain hit a sacrifice fly to center and Elly De La Cruz plated two more with a base hit to right-center.

Top 4th, 7-1 CIN: Bryan Reynolds broke up Chase Burns’ no-hit and shutout bids with a one-out RBI single to center.

Bottom 4th. 9-1 CIN: The Reds tacked on two more off Ron Marinaccio. Lowe ripped an RBI double to left-center and Dane Myers hit a grounder passed the sliding Nick Gonzales at third base for an run-scoring single.

Top 8th, 9-2 CIN: Jared Triolo delivered a pinch-hit RBI single to center field off Tejay Antone.

Bottom 8th, 10-2 CIN: Stephenson hit an opposite-field solo home run to right field off Camilo Doval, who was making his Pirates’ debut.

Key Moments​

Mitch Keller was unable to settle in after the Sal Stewart home run and the Reds were able to quickly put the game well out of reach with their ace on the mound.

Player of the Game​

Chase Burns (13-1) held the Pirates (56-57) to one run on two hits and two walks in six innings. He struck out nine batters, including each of the last five he faced.

Stat to Know​

Chase Burns has now won 12 straight decisions. His lone loss of the season came on April 10 against the Angels.

Notable Performances​

• Mitch Keller: 2.0 innings, six hits, seven runs, four walks, two strikeouts, 69 pitches/34 strikes
• Jacob Gonzalez: 2 for 3, one double, one run
• Bryan Reynolds: 1 for 3, one RBI, one walk

Noteworthy​

• Pirates manager Don Kelly was ejected in the fourth inning by Dan Bellino when the game was paused for an extended period of time while the grounds crew worked on the field conditions during a steady rain.
• The Pirates reinstated 1B Spencer Horwitz (left hamstring strain, concussion) from the 10-day injured list and optioned OF Billy Cook to Triple-A Indianapolis. The Pirates also activated RHP Camilo Doval and optioned RHP Isaac Mattson to Indianapolis.
• The Mets claimed C Shawn Ross of waivers from the Pirates.

Up Next​

The Pirates head to Milwaukee to start a four-game series on Monday night. RHP Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) will be on the mound for Pittsburgh. The Brewers will send out RHP Brandon Sproat (3-6, 5.05 ERA). First pitch: 7:40 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.

Around the Network​

Pittsburgh Baseball Now:Pirates Trade Analysis: Change-of-Scenery Candidate Doval a Good Start in Bullpen

Pittsburgh Hockey Now:Penguins Roster Turnover: Who Succeeded, Who Flopped Elsewhere

Steelers Now:Saunders’ Steelers Training Camp Takeaways: Rodgers to Metcalf Connection Surges, Allar Gets 2-Min Shot

Pittsburgh Sports Now:Former Pitt RB Desmond Reid Looking to Return to College

The post Keller Gets Rocked, Pirates Drop Series to Reds With Loss on Sunday appeared first on Pittsburgh Baseball Now.

Continue reading...