Reds Fall To Pirates 8-7 In Completion Of Suspended Game

Apr 14, 2014; Cincinnati, OH, USA; Cincinnati Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) watches the home run of the Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Neil Walker (18) during the second inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Frank Victores-USA TODAY Sports

The Pittsburgh Pirates and Cincinnati Reds completed their suspended game on Tuesday afternoon. No home runs were hit during the resumption, unlike the previous night’s homerun derby fest in which the teams combined for 10 home runs.

Catcher Russell Martin’s RBI single in the top of the seventh inning drove home the eventual winning run in an 8-7 Pirates victory over the Reds at frigid Great American Ball Park.

Monday night’s game was suspended because of rain after six innings after a one-hour, 38-minute rain delay with the score tied 7-7. There was no threat of rain on Tuesday, but the game-time temperature of 39 degrees was 27 degrees colder than the previous night.

Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen doubled off right-hander Sam LeCure and scored on Martin’s two-out single to center, putting Pittsburgh ahead 8-7 in the seventh. LeCure allowed one earned run and three hits with a walk and three strikeouts in two innings to take the loss.

The Pittsburgh bullpen made the one-run lead hold up.

Left-hander Tony Watson started the seventh for the Pirates and retired three straight batters to strand the tying run in scoring position.

Right-hander Mark Melancon retired catcher Devin Mesoraco for the final out in the eighth, leaving right fielder Jay Bruce on second base.

Pirates closer Jason Grilli pitched a perfect ninth with two strikeouts for his fourth save. Right-hander Bryan Morris picked up the victory.

The three innings played Tuesday did not match the drama of the previous night when Pittsburgh hit back-to-back home runs in the second, fifth and sixth innings.

Second baseman Neil Walker and first baseman Gaby Sanchez each hit two home runs for the Pirates and twice went back-to-back. Left fielder Starling Marte and right fielder Travis Snider began the fifth with back-to-back homers.

Cincinnati got solo shots from third baseman Todd Frazier, left fielder Ryan Ludwick, first baseman Joey Votto and Mesoraco on Monday.

“I’ve never seen anything like that,” Reds manager Bryan Price said after Monday’s suspension. “I’ve seen a lot of home runs hit, but not on a night like that. It’s raining, it’s cooler. You wouldn’t think the ball would carry the way it did. It made for a fascinating six innings, that’s for sure.”

Reds starter Homer Bailey allowed five earned runs and eight hits, four of which left the park, and struck out nine. Despite allowing four homers, he settled for a no-decision. It was the third straight game that he has allowed four runs and at least one home run.

Pittsburgh starter Wandy Rodriguez gave up six earned runs and three homers in five innings before the rain delay.