Reds at Pirates
The Pittsburgh Pirates have not had many reasons to celebrate in the second half of the season, but the Cincinnati Reds seem to bring out the best in them at PNC Park. Pittsburgh has a chance to win only its second series since the All-Star break when they resume a three-game set against the visiting Reds on Saturday night.
Pablo Reyes' pinch-hit single capped a two-run rally in the ninth and gave the Pirates a walk-off 3-2 victory Friday - only the team's ninth win in 39 games. Adam Frazier delivered a tying RBI single to lift Pittsburgh to its eighth consecutive victory over Cincinnati at PNC Park. The late comeback spoiled a record-setting night for Reds rookie Aristides Aquino, who collected three hits and drove in both runs with a homer and double. Aquino, promoted from the minors following the trade of Yasiel Puig, became the fastest player in major league history to hit 12 homers, needing just 22 games to reach that number.
TV: 7:05 p.m. ET, FS Ohio (Cincinnati), AT&T SportsNet Pittsburgh
PITCHING MATCHUP: Reds LH Alex Wood (1-2, 5.92 ERA) vs. Pirates RH Trevor Williams (5-6, 5.65)
Wood continued to be victimized by the long ball last time out, losing his second straight start after surrendering a pair of homers and giving up five runs (four earned) over five innings against St. Louis. The 28-year-old gave up only 14 homers in 151 2/3 innings last year but already has served up eight over his five starts with Cincinnati. Wood won his lone start against Pittsburgh last year while with the Los Angeles Dodgers, giving up one run over six innings.
Williams was a model of consistency a year ago, giving up more than three runs only once in his last 13 starts, but he has yet to win back-to-back outings this season. He had his worst outing of the season versus Washington on Monday, when he was hammered for eight runs and allowed three homers over a season-low two innings to raise his ERA to 10.00 this month. Tucker Barnhart is 4-for-8 off Williams, who gave up three runs to the Reds in his first two starts of the year.
WALK-OFFS
1. Reds INF Freddy Galvis is 7-for-15 with two homers, two doubles and four RBIs during a four-game hitting streak.
2. The Pirates are 15-2 in their last 17 at home against Cincinnati.
3. Reds closer RHP Raisel Iglesias suffered his first blown save since July 22 in the series opener.