Cincinnati Reds edge past Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 – MLB Update
Dontrelle Willis had a two-run double on Sunday, September 25 to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 at PNC Park.
The Pirates who had a 2-0 lead in the three-game series could not maintain their seemingly good form and lost.
Willis went for three hits in the six innings to frustrate the James McDonald of the Pirates. He also unleashed a six inning pitching spell to allow only three runs and went for six strike-outs to perfect the victory for the Reds and to avoid the series
sweep.
"The guys really battled for me today," Willis said. "They knew it was my last start and the way I pitched poorly the last start I wanted to finish the season with confidence."
For the Pirates, the result was probably not to their liking despite having won the series. "The finish today, we were one run short and that's the way it's been more often than not the last 50 games," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "I'm proud of
the effort, but we've got to work on execution."
Reds’ manager Dusty Baker was quite pleased and showed satisfaction for the performance that Willis put on in both defence and offence. "That was a big two-run double," Baker said. "It was great to get him that first (win) because it was a long time coming
for him."
Sunday’s game began as Jay Bruce singled to right in the very first inning to give the team a comfortable 1-0 lead. With the lead coming their way, Paul Janish hit a sacrifice fly hit in the second to make it 2-0 for the Reds.
Brandon Phillips was quick to single to centre in the third inning to triple the lead for the team. Chase D'Arnaud scored a two-run triple in the second inning against Dontrelle Willis to bring the lead down to 3-2.
Before Willis could settle, Michael McKenry hit a sacrifice fly hit to level the score for the Pirates for the first time in the game. While Willis played his role as the effective pitcher, in the sixth inning he assumed the charge of an equally strong hitter.
Willis hit and collected two RBI runs to re-establish the Cincinnati Reds’ lead in the game once again at 5-3. The Reds’ relief pitchers successfully maintained the lead until the ninth inning when Francisco Cordero relieved Allen Chapman.
Cordero gave up a run to Walker, but sent other hitters packing to wrap up the game with a 5-4 victory for the Reds. Cincinnati put in a tremendous performance as they fought hard throughout the game and came up with a much needed win against the Pirates.
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