Pittsburgh Pirates Fall In Extra Innings, But Still Alive For Division Title

Final Score: Reds 10, Pirates 6 in 10 innings

How It Happened:

The Reds scored three runs in the first inning, two of which were earned. The first two came off aDevin Mesoracosingle.Starling Martecommitted his sixth error of the season during this play.Chris Heiseythen had an RBI ground out. Mesoraco tried to come home for a fourth run on another grounder, but aJordy Mercerthrow got to catcherChris Stewartin time. A crew chief authorized replay confirmed this.

Mercer would get the next two RBIs, the first coming on a ground out to short stop in the second inning and then his 12th home run in the fifth inning which would start a three run rally.

The inning continued when starterFrancisco Lirianosingled andJosh Harrisondoubled to put runners at second and third base. The bases would be loaded after anAndrew McCutchenwalk.Neil Walkerwould then bat in two runners getting a single down just before center fielder Heisey could get to it.

Todd Frazieropened the bottom half of the fifth inning with a walk and after a ground out and wild pitch moved to third withRyan Ludwickup to bat. Ludwick countered a Pirates defensive shift and hit a ball to right field to tie the game at four.

Both Liriano and Reds starterAlfredo Simonpitched five innings, both allowed five hits and four runs.Jared HughesandJ.J. Hooverpitched clean sixth innings for their respective teams.

In the seventh inningSam LeCurepitched for the Reds and got the first two outs beforeTravis Snidergot a single.Gregory Polancopinch ran for him and stole second base. McCutchen batted him in, his 83rd RBI of the season. Neil Walker then tripled down the right field line for his 75th RBI.

Pirates relieverJohn Holdzkomwas scored on for the first time this season when Todd Frazier hit a two-run home run, his 29th of the year, in the seventh. Holdzkom threw a strike on a 2-0 count that home plate umpire Jim Joyce ruled a ball and then caught too much plate when trying to throw a strike on the next pitch.

The score remained tied heading to the bottom of the 10th inning whenJohn Axfordtook the mound. Axford threw 22 pitches, 11 for strikes, but his misses were well wide and resulted in two walks.Bobby LaFromboisefell behindBrayan Pena3-0 with the bases loaded before coming back to force a pop up for the second out.Ramon Santiagocame to the plate with a .242 batting average and one home run, but hit a walk off grand slam to win the game.

Dylan Axelrodgot the win to go to 2-1 on the season while Axford took the loss to fall to 2-4.

Up Next:

The Pirates will wrap up their regular season Sunday at 1:10 against the Reds.Gerrit Cole[11-5 3.78 ERA] is scheduled to start but that may change depending on how much they want to prioritize the NL Central title over being ready for a potential wild-card game Wednesday. St. Louis lost to Arizona, so Pittsburgh’s deficit remains one heading into season’s final day.

If Cole doesn’t go, we could seeJeff LockeorStolmy Pimentelstarting. The Reds will go withJohnny Cuetowho is 19-9 with a 2.29 ERA on the season. Cueto’s 19 victories tie him with his 2012 mark for a career best.