Pirates DISMANTLE Reds Again, Walk Into Record Books; Everyone Contributes

Top 2nd, 5-3 PIT: Will Benson got a run back for the Reds (20-13) with a 414-foot solo home run to right field off Mlodzinski to lead off the inning.

Bottom 2nd, 10-3 PIT: Lowder and Connor Phillips combined to walk SEVEN batters in a row, leading to four runs for the Pirates. Henry Davis drove in a fifth run after beating out a double play ball, the third pitcher used by the Reds in the inning.

Bottom 4th, 15-4 PIT: The Pirates posted their third five-run inning of the game. Cruz singled home Griffin after a leadoff triple and scored on a Reynolds double to right. O’Hearn plated two more with a single. Three batters later, Spencer Horwitz looped an RBI single to shallow left.

Top 6th, 15-6 PIT: Mlodzinski issued a two-out walk to TJ Friedl and was lifted in favor of Chris Devenski, who allowed a two-run home run to JJ Bleday.

Top 8th, 15-7 PIT: Ke’Bryan Hayes bounced into a double play but Benson trotted home from third to score on the play.

Bottom 8th, 17-7 PIT: Ozuna singled to left center and plated Jake Mangum from third. He came around to score on a Horwitz double off the right field wall. Reds catcher Jose Trevino was pitching.

Key Moments

After the Reds took the lead in the top of the first inning, the Pirates punched back and more by putting up a five spot off Rhett Lowder, who had only allowed 17 runs through the first 12 starts of his career — the fewest of any Reds starter in that span since 1900.

Player of the Game

Konnor Griffin doubled, tripled, collected a career-high four hits, drove in a pair of runs and scored once.

Stat to Know

Prior to the second inning of this game, the last time there were seven-plus consecutive walks in the same inning was the Braves vs. Pirates on May 25, 1983. Pirates pitchers Jim Bibby and Jim Winn combined to issue seven walks in a row in the bottom of the third. The seven consecutive walks are tied for a major league record.

Notable Performances

• Carmen Mlodzinski: 5.2 innings, eight hits, five runs, two walks, 10 strikeouts, 101 pitches/67 strikes
• Konnor Griffin: 4 for 5, one triple, one double, two RBI, one run, one walk
• Marcell Ozuna: 3 for 5, one double, three RBI, three runs, one walk
• Ryan O’Hearn: 2 for 3, one double, three RBI, three runs, one walk
• Bryan Reynolds: 2 for 3, one double, one RBI, three runs, two walks
• Spencer Horwitz: 2 for 5, one double, three RBI
• Nick Gonzales: 2 for 5, two RBI, one run, one walk
• Oneil Cruz: 2 for 6, one RBI, two runs
• Brandon Lowe: 1 for 1, one RBI, one run, four walks

Noteworthy

• Bryan Reynolds’ double in the fourth inning was the 200th of his career.
• Konnor Griffin extended his hitting streak to a career-high five games.
• The Pirates’ 17 runs and 19 hits were both season-highs.
• The Pirates drew 11 walks, their most in a game since Sep. 26, 2021 at the Phillies (also 11).
• Carmen Mlodzinski struck out a career-high 10 batters. His previous career-high was eight against the New York Mets on March 29.
• RHP Chris Devenski was ejected by crew chief Alan Porter for throwing at Reds second baseman Sal Stewart in the top of the seventh.
• The Pirates reinstated INF Jared Triolo (right knee patellar tendon injury) from the 15-day injured list and optioned INF/OF Nick Yorke to Triple-A Indianapolis.

Up Next

RHP Braxton Ashcraft (1-2, 3.71 ERA) will start for the Pirates in the series finale on Sunday afternoon. RHP Chase Burns (3-1, 2.65 ERA) will go for the Reds. First pitch: 1:35 p.m. ET on SportsNet Pittsburgh/93.7 The Fan.

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