Reds Even Series With A 7-5 Win Over Pirates

Cold, cold, cold, and some more cold at the ballpark tonight.

Apr 15, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds third baseman Todd Frazier watches from the dugout in the second inning during a game against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: David Kohl-USA TODAY Sports

Third baseman Todd Frazier and starting pitcher Mike Leake hit two-run homers, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on a frigid Tuesday night at Great American Ball Park.

Catcher Devin Mesoraco went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for Cincinnati (4-9), including a two-run single with the bases loaded in the seventh inning. First baseman Joey Votto went 4-for-4 with a walk and RBI.

Second baseman Neil Walker hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, he’s has been a “Reds killer” lately.

Pirates right-hander Gerrit Cole allowed five earned runs and nine hits in six innings with three walks and three strikeouts.

In the ninth, Pittsburgh had runners on first and third with two outs and center fielder Andrew McCutchen at the plate against Reds right-hander Jonathan Broxton. After an eight-pitch at-bat, McCutchen popped out to second baseman Brandon Phillips for the final out. It was Broxton first save of the season.

Leake threw 110 pitches, allowing five hits and three earned runs in 6 2/3 innings with a walk and eight strikeouts. At the plate, he went 2-for-3 with two runs and two RBIs.

The Pirates collected only three hits off Leake through six innings but led 2-1. Leake retired eight straight during one stretch.

Frazier’s two-run homer to right field in the sixth came on a 1-1 pitch from Cole to put Cincinnati ahead 3-2.

Later in the inning, Leake launched a 2-1 pitch from Cole 356 feet into the left-field seats to put the Reds ahead 5-2. It was Leake’s third career home run.

The Reds loaded the bases with two outs in the seventh and Mesoraco singled on a 1-2 pitch from right-hander Jeanmar Gomez to make the score 7-3.

Leake struck out all three batters he faced in the first inning. But Pittsburgh pushed across a run against him in the second.

Gaby Sanchez, who homered twice on Monday night, lined a RBI single off the left-field wall against the right-handed Leake to put Pittsburgh ahead 1-0.

Leake led off the third with a double to left-center field. He was sacrificed to third base on left fielder Chris Heisey’s bunt and scored on Votto’s single to tie the score 1-1.

Pittsburgh turned inning-ending double plays in the second and third.

A throwing error by Leake allowed McCutchen to score the go-ahead run that made it 2-1 in the fourth. But despite two hits and four baserunners, Leake limited the Bucs to one run in the inning.

Reds go for their first series win of the season tomorrow afternoon in a aces showdown. Johnny Cueto for the Reds and Francisco Liraino for the Bucs. First pitch is at 12:35pm.