Pirates whiff 16 times, but beat Reds 3-2

The Pirates struck out 16 times, while only walking twice, against the Reds on Sunday but still managed to pull out a 3-2 win thanks to a two-run seventh inning.

Homer Bailey racked up 12 of those whiffs and generally was dominant, but allowed a solo homer on a hanging curveball to Garrett Jones in the second, then ran into trouble five innings later. Michael McKenry hit a one-out double in the second, then came home on a ground-ball single by Jordy Mercer. Then Clint Barmes hit an infield single, and Jose Tabata brought home McKenry with a line drive single of his own. Michael McKenry, Jordy Mercer, Clint Barmes and Jose Tabata, ladies and gentlemen!

Jeff Locke only gave up one run, which came when he walked two batters and threw a wild pitch in the fifth. (As ever, the difference between McKenry and Russell Martin was glaring -- Locke's wild pitch was a bad one, but I couldn't help feeling that Martin would have blocked it.) Locke went six innings, striking out six but walking four. Mark Melancon allowed a rare run in the eighth when he loaded the bases on a walk, a single and another walk, then gave up a run-scoring double play. Jason Grilli picked up the save with a scoreless ninth.