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After a commanding performance both on the mound and at the plate on Saturday, the Cincinnati Reds are set to secure a series split as they face off against the Pittsburgh Pirates in the finale on Sunday. With the season winding down, the Reds are eager to build momentum and finish strong, aiming to replicate their recent success and leave Pittsburgh on a high note.
Reds Rebound with a Strong Performance
The Reds bounced back impressively on Saturday after a tough loss on Friday, where they blew a 5-0 lead and ended up losing 6-5. Determined not to let history repeat itself, Cincinnati took control early and never looked back, cruising to a 10-2 victory.
“The style of play, I think, is exactly what we want,” Reds manager David Bell said. “Always playing hard. It was nice for it to work out. Aggressive baserunning. Big at-bats offensively, it was a good game.”
Leading the way for the Reds was Elly De La Cruz, who went 3-for-4 with two RBIs, three runs scored, and his league-leading 61st stolen base. The 22-year-old shortstop has been on fire lately, batting .421 (8-for-19) over his last five games. His electrifying play has been a game-changer for the Reds, especially during a stretch where wins have been hard to come by since their four-game streak ended on August 14.
Pitching Matchup: Martinez vs. Ortiz
On Sunday, the Reds will send veteran right-hander Nick Martinez (6-6, 3.64 ERA) to the mound. This will be Martinez’s fifth consecutive start after spending much of the season in the bullpen. He’s been solid since rejoining the rotation on August 5, though he’ll be working on just three days’ rest after his 4 1/3 inning outing against the Toronto Blue Jays on Wednesday. Martinez has had a rough time in his limited appearances against the Pirates, carrying a 20.25 ERA in four relief appearances totaling just 2 2/3 innings.
The Pirates will counter with Luis Ortiz (5-4, 3.56 ERA), a promising young right-hander making his 10th start of the season. Ortiz has shown flashes of brilliance, especially in his first start of the season against the Reds on June 26, where he allowed just one run on four hits over six innings, striking out seven without issuing a walk. However, after a stellar July with a 1.75 ERA, Ortiz has faced some challenges in August, giving up 16 runs on 18 hits over 22 1/3 innings.
Pirates Look to Bounce Back
The Pirates are looking for a better overall performance on Sunday after a rough game on Saturday, where mistakes on the mound and in the field led to their 10-2 loss. Starting pitcher Jake Woodford struggled, unable to make it out of the fourth inning, forcing the Pirates to lean heavily on their bullpen.
Pirates manager Derek Shelton acknowledged the team’s struggles, saying, “We didn’t play good baseball. We made baserunning mistakes, we made defensive mistakes, we didn’t play well.”
Despite the tough night, there were some positives for the Pirates. Reliever Jalen Beeks continued to shine since being acquired from the Colorado Rockies last month. Beeks retired five consecutive batters after stepping in for the injured Hunter Stratton, who had to leave the game with a knee injury during a play at the plate. Beeks has been a steady presence in the bullpen, lowering his ERA to 0.96 in 9 1/3 innings with Pittsburgh.
The Pirates are aiming to win their second series in three tries after enduring a rough patch earlier this season, where they lost 10 straight games.
The Road Ahead for the Reds and Pirates
As the Reds and Pirates gear up for the series finale, Cincinnati is looking to carry over the momentum from Saturday’s win and secure a series split. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh is determined to bounce back and notch their second series win in three attempts. With both teams sending capable starters to the mound in Martinez and Ortiz, Sunday’s game is set to be an intriguing showdown as these NL Central rivals wrap up their weekend series.
