[jasontoddwhitt]

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 5, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh (2-2)	0	0	0	0	1	1	0	0	0	2	7	1
Cincinnati (2-2)	0	0	0	0	1	0	0	0	0	1	5	1
W: Mitch Keller (1-0) L: Tejay Antone (0-1) S: Richard Rodriguez (2)

A magnificent effort from Pirates starter Mitch Keller propelled the Pirates to a 2-1 victory today over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ballpark. In seven-plus innings of work, Keller gave up one run on three hits. He walked one and struck out six.

Tejay Antone was solid in his first start of the season, but couldn't get any run support in the losing effort. In six innings of work, Antone gave up two runs on six hits. He didn't give up any walks and struck out three hitters.

Pirates 3B Ke'Bryan Hayes broke the 1-1 deadlock in the sixth inning with an RBI single off of Antone. In four trips to the plate, he had a single and a double.

The Reds were able to load the bases in the bottom of the 8th inning, but Pirates reliever David Bednar forced Nick Castellanos to chop one back to the pitcher to get the final out of the inning. Pirates closer Richard Rodriguez pitched a perfect 9th to get his second save of the season.

Reds CF Nick Senzel was pulled from the game after injuring his knee sliding into second base in the sixth inning. He was diagnosed with a bruised knee and is officially listed as day-to-day.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 6, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh (2-3)	0	0	0	2	0	0	0	0	0	2	9	0
Cincinnati (3-2)	0	0	0	1	1	4	0	0	X	6	10	1
W: Jeff Hoffman (1-0) L: Wil Crowe (0-1)

Jeff Hoffman may not have a full-time role in the rotation once Sonny Gray returns, but he's making the most of the opportunity. Hoffman pitched seven strong innings as the Reds tagged the Pirates 10 hits in a 6-2 victory.

Hoffman scattered eight hits across seven innings of work. He didn't surrender any walks and struck out eight hitters en route to his first victory on the season. Hoffman also got it done with the bat today. His RBI single in the 4th inning got the Reds on the board. Hoffman would also single in the 6th inning, later coming around to score on Nick Castellanos' two-run double that busted the game open for the Reds.

Reds' catcher Tucker Barnhart would also play a big role in today's victory. Barnhart would go 2-for-4 with a double and three runs batted in, one of which came on a bases-loaded walk in the 5th inning that tied the game.

Pirates' starter Wil Crowe would struggle today in picking up the loss. Crowe worked five-plus innings, giving up three runs on seven hits. He would walk four and strike out four.

Pittsburgh Pirates at Cincinnati Reds
Apr 7, 2021	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	R	H	E
Pittsburgh (3-3)	1	0	0	2	1	2	0	0	0	6	10	0
Cincinnati (3-3)	1	0	0	0	0	0	3	0	0	4	7	0
W: Tyler Anderson (2-0) L: Luis Castillo (0-2) S: Richard Rodriguez (3)

A standout pitching performance by Pirates' ace Tyler Anderson would see the Pirates take the series from the Reds today in a 6-4 victory.

Anderson would pitch six-plus innings and give up one run on four hits. He walked one and struck out five to improve to (2-0) on the season. The Reds lit up Pirates' reliever Miguel Yajure in the 7th inning, as he gave up three runs on three hits before getting out of the inning. Reliever Clay Holmes worked around two walks in the 8th inning by getting Joey Votto to ground into a double play. Closer Richard Rodriguez also worked around two walks in the 9th inning but got two big strikeouts to close the door on the Reds threat for his third save of the season.

Reds ace Luis Castillo struggled in his second start of the season, giving up five runs on seven hits in five-plus innings of work. He walked two and struck out four to drop his record to (0-2).

Reds pitchers failed to get Pirates' LF Bryan Reynolds out one time today. Reynolds was 3-for-3 with a walk, two doubles and a run batted in. The lone bright spot for the Reds offense today was CF Nick Senzel, who went 3-for-4 with two doubles and two runs batted in.

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MLB Headlines

04/06 - Padres place SS Fernando Tatis, Jr. on the IL due to a fractured thumb. He is expected to miss 3-4 weeks.
04/06 - The Astros traded 1B Yuli Gurriel to the Brewers for RP Phil Bickford and minor league SP Ethan Small.
04/07 - The Athletics place SP Sean Manaea on the IL due to shoulder inflammation. He is expected to miss 5-6 weeks.