NL Wild Card Game - Bucs stop Reds 3-0 to advance to NLDS
| Francis-KKKKKKKK-o |
The NL Wild Card game became a good old-fashioned pitching duel between
the Reds' Johnny Cueto and the Pirates' Francisco Liriano. The Pirates
struck in the first inning, as Cueto didn't start off well by hitting
Starling Marte with a pitch. But he got the next two hitters to easily
pop out before Pirates' newcomers Justin Morneau and Marlin Byrd (both
obtained at the trade deadline) chipped in. Morneau lined a singled to
move Marte to third and Byrd doubled off the left field wall to score
him and make it 1-0 Bucs.
The deafening crowd at PNC Park seems to make Reds' hitters wilt, especially with the early Pirates lead. After allowing a second inning single, Liriano didn't allow another Reds base hit until the sixth, and didn't go an inning with more than one base runner. Meanwhile, the Pirates scored another solo run in the third on back-to-back-to-back singles by Neil Walker, Andrew McCuthen and Morneau.
Liriano ended up with eight Ks and no walks in six innings of dominant work. Batting for Liriano in the bottom of the sixth, Pirates pinch hitter Jose Tabata doubled off the right field wall and ended up scoring the third run for the Pirates in the bottom of the sixth.
Pirates relievers continued to shut down the Reds. Justin Wilson got out of a jam in the seventh with two base runners on a double play ball from Zach Cozart. Shutdown relievers Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli each gave up a single in their two innings of work but closed the door on the Reds' season. The Reds ended with only five hits, all of the singles, in the easy 3-0 Pirates' win.
The deafening crowd at PNC Park seems to make Reds' hitters wilt, especially with the early Pirates lead. After allowing a second inning single, Liriano didn't allow another Reds base hit until the sixth, and didn't go an inning with more than one base runner. Meanwhile, the Pirates scored another solo run in the third on back-to-back-to-back singles by Neil Walker, Andrew McCuthen and Morneau.
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| Just-in-time |
Liriano ended up with eight Ks and no walks in six innings of dominant work. Batting for Liriano in the bottom of the sixth, Pirates pinch hitter Jose Tabata doubled off the right field wall and ended up scoring the third run for the Pirates in the bottom of the sixth.
Pirates relievers continued to shut down the Reds. Justin Wilson got out of a jam in the seventh with two base runners on a double play ball from Zach Cozart. Shutdown relievers Mark Melancon and Jason Grilli each gave up a single in their two innings of work but closed the door on the Reds' season. The Reds ended with only five hits, all of the singles, in the easy 3-0 Pirates' win.
Click here to view box score
Can this young team, after 20 years of losing seasons, break through in the 2013 playoffs?
Can this young team, after 20 years of losing seasons, break through in the 2013 playoffs?
--submitted by Joe Pryweller--
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