Dateline: Browns Chapel
The Reds were back at home against the Pirates. After a couple of tough losses, the fans were really cheering on the home team. Ian started on the mound for the Reds and he walked the Pirates lead-off hitter stole second, but was gunned down at third by a great throw by Nick at catcher. A groundout to Garrett at second was out two. Ian struck out the next batter to shut out the Pirates in the first.
Nick led off with a single, Ian singled and Matt walked to load the bases for Mason. With none out, Reds fans were on their feet. Mason took three balls, with a 3-0 count, Coach Grossman gave him the green light to swing away. He hit a shot to right center to score two and suddenly the Reds offensive drought was over. Juan walked to load the bases again. Matt scored on a wild pitch. Devon had a big RBI single to score Mason. After one it was 4-0 Reds.
In the top of the second, Ian walked the first batter, induced the second to ground out back to the pitchers mound where Ian made a nice play. Four more walks in a row resulted in two runs. Happily for the Reds, the Pirates sent a runner home on a wild pitch and Nick alertly grabbed the ball off the screen and made the tag. Another groundout to the mound ended the Pirates threat Reds bats continued in the second. Ben hit a long smash to right center for a double. With two outs, Michael walked. Omar had a big RBI single to score Ben. Nick beat out an infield hit to score Michael. Nick stole second and then Ian hit a sharp smash to center to score Michael. Matt singled and Mason was again up with the bases loaded. He hit a long bases clearing triple to score Omar and Nick and the Reds lead was now a commanding 8-2.
Ben came on in in the third. He struck out the first batter and then walked two batters and then a big double scored one and moved runners to second and third. Then the Pirates coach tried a delayed steal at third as Ben was walking back to the mound. Ben turned and fired to Nick at home who applied the tag. With two outs, an RBI single scored a second run but then the runner on third tried to score on a wild pitch. Nick flipped to Ben who applied the tag at the plate for the second out at a home of the inning. The Reds went down quietly in the third as the first two batters were retired. Then with an 0-1 count, Devon smashed a long, high fly to center. The Pirates outfielder made a great catch so after three it was Reds 8 Pirates 4.
Ben returned the mound in the fourth. He struck out the leadoff man, but then an infield error and two walks were next. Garrett came on in relief with one out and the bases loaded. He calmly started off with two strikes. On a 1-2 count, the batter lofted a soft looper that just dropped in for a two run single to center. With one out and two runs in, runners were on first and third. Then the Pirates tried a double steal. Matt threw down to second and the play was close, but the runner was safe. The runner on third broke for home, Alec came up firing and threw a perfect strike to Matt at catcher and the runner was out a the plate. Out two. Garrrett settled down and struck out the last hitter to end the Pirates at bat. The Pirates had now trimmed the lead to 8-7 Reds. The Reds picked up a much needed insurance run as, with one out, Sean led off with a single and stole second and moved to third on a wild pitch. Garrett and Michael walked to load the bases. Omar walked to score Sean. With one out and the bases loaded, Reds fans were on the edge of their seat. Unfortunately the Pirates pitcher settled down and induced a weak popup to the catcher (who made a great catch in foul territory) and a strikeout to end the inning. After four it was 9-7 Reds.
Mason came on in the fifth and was dominant. He walked the first batter who scored on a few wild pitches, but then he struck out the side. In the bottom of the fifth, Mason led off with a long triple to right. His second triple on the day. Juan singled to score Mason. Juan stole second and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Alec grounded out to third to score Juan. The umps called the game due to time and the game ended Reds 11 Pirates 8.
