Cruz delivers go-ahead hit in the 8th as Pirates top Reds 1-0 to complete a 3-game sweep

TL;DR

Oneil Cruz hit a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 1-0 victory over the Cincinnati Reds, completing a three-game sweep.

Key points

Oneil Cruz hit a tie-breaking single in the eighth inning
Pirates won 1-0 against the Reds
Pittsburgh completed a three-game sweep

Pittsburgh PiratesCincinnati Reds

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Oneil Cruz hit a tie-breaking single in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a sweep of Cincinnati with a 1-0 win on Sunday. Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin doubled off the centerfield wall against Reds reliever Tony Santillan (1-1) with two outs in the eighth. Pinch hitter Jake Mangum worked a full count walk and Cruz followed by lacing a single to center. Griffin beat TJ Friedl's throw home with ease as Pittsburgh responded to getting swept at home by St. Louis by taking three straight from the Reds. Gregory Soto (3-0) got the last four outs after taking over following a brilliant performance by starter Braxton Ashcraft. A day after seven pitchers combined to issue 11 walks — including an MLB-record tying seven straight at one point — Cincinnati rookie Chase Burns was far more efficient while matching Ashcraft pitch for pitch Ashcraft bounced back from a rocky performance in a loss to St. Louis with the best start of his young career. The 26-year-old allowed four hits over 7 2/3 innings with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. He also benefited from a couple of excellent defensive plays behind him. Second baseman — all 5-foot-9 of him — climbed the ladder to rob of a hit to end the sixth, a snag that came with Friedl on second base representing the go-ahead run. Third baseman threw out Cincinnati's at the plate to help Pittsburgh get out of a two-on, one-out threat in the eighth. Burns, a 23-year-old rookie, was perhaps even better. The hard-throwing right-hander, whose fastball easily tops 100 mph, allowed a leadoff infield single to Cruz, then retired 16 straight before 's single with one out in the sixth. Burns allowed three hits in seven-plus innings, with a walk and seven strikeouts, to lower his ERA to 2.20.

Q&A

What was the final score of the Pirates vs. Reds game on Sunday?

The final score was 1-0 in favor of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Who delivered the game-winning hit for the Pirates against the Reds?

Oneil Cruz delivered the game-winning hit with a single in the eighth inning.

How did the Pirates perform in their series against the Reds?

The Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep against the Cincinnati Reds.