And this one goes to the Reds....

The most important series for the Pittsburgh Pirates in years started with a bad bounce and a lucky break as the Cincinnati Reds defeated the Pirates 3-0 in Cincinnati.

Wandy Rodriguez pitched pretty well (7-10) with a one pitch exception,but was unable to match Mat Latos,Jonathan Broxton and especially Aroldis Chapman in picking up the defeat on the mound.
The series continues Saturday at Great American Ballpark
James McDonald for the Pirates against Cincinnati's Mike Leake...

Pirate Hooks

1)  The play that essentially won the game was the inside the park homer by Chris Heisey,
Starling Marte missed misplayed the ball against the wall,but that can happen with young players in their first time in new parks.
The surprising thing was that Andrew McCutchen was nowhere to be found and allowed Heisey to get the homer in what could have been a triple at best....

2) Wandy Rodriguez gave the Pirates exactly what they hoped for when they traded for him-six innings,three runs.
If those are the expectations for the lefty,Rodriguez will be more than up to that standard.

3) Only a fastball that was grooved in the perfect spot to Mat Latos ruined the night for Rodriguez.
Homers by the pitcher are rare enough,but the especially rare are those that are just crushed.
The bat speed that Latos showed on that pitch was the type that you just do not see from a pitcher.
Latos violently whipped the bat into the pitch at that spot and the homer happened...

4) Aroldis Chapman was unreal in the ninth inning.
Chapman hit over 100 MPH several times and his three swing and misses to end the game against Garrett Jones went 100,101 and 102.
When you can throw with that type of velocity and with the movement that Chapman has,there is going to be a long line of swings and misses....

5) The Reds extended their lead to four and a half games with the win.
If the Pirates can win one of the two remaining games and keep it at four and a half,things are fine.
A sweep by the Reds and a six and a half game deficit that would result would put the Pirates in a very difficult situation.
Winning one of those games is almost mandatory,if the division stays in reach for the Pirates.

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