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The Pirates were facing arguably the best pitcher in the Reds rotation, but Luis Castillo struggled through 107 pitches over five innings an the bullpen just allowed the Pirates to pile on.
Trevor Williams’ no-hit streak for the Pirates ended with the first batter of the game when Jesse Winkler reached first on a slow grounder to shortstop Jordy Mercer. That would be typical of Williams’ night, as he allowed ten hits but only a pair of runs over five and a third innings.
The Pirates broke on top in the bottom of the second inning, as Corey Dickerson, Colin Moran and Jordy Mercer all laced doubles, giving the Pirates an early 2-0 lead.
The Reds immediately tied the game up in their half of the third, as the pitcher Luis Castillo led off with a double to center. After a walk to Billy Hamilton, who was batting ninth, Winkler provided another infield hit to score Castillo and Joey Votto laced a single to center to plate Hamilton. After a mound visit, Williams bore down and retired the Reds as Scooter Gennett lined to third and Adam Duvall struck out on a foul tip.
From there it was all Pirates.
The Pirates took the lead right back in the bottom of the third as with two outs Josh Bell walked, Dickerson singled, and Francisco Cervelli walked to load the bases (after rightfully complaining about the calls on the 3-0 and 3-1 pitches.) Colin Moran promptly lined a two-run single to right center that Hamilton dove for but could not snatch out of the air. It was Moran’s second of four hits on the night.
The Pirates scored at will against the Reds’ bullpen, putting up six runs in the sixth inning against their old nemesis Yovani Gallardo, and another four in the seventh against Austin Brice.
Clay Holmes made his major league debut, pitching the last two innings for the Pirates, allowing a run on two hits and two walks along with two strikeouts.
Moran had four hits, including a double, and scored three and drove in three. Dickerson collected three hits with a pair of doubles, including one on which he was thrown out trying to stretch it into a triple, and those hits were good for two runs scored and two driven in. Mercer chipped in three hits, Josh Harrison a pair, Starling Marte (including a bses loaded triple, and Gregory Polanco with a two-run double to extended his RBI total to 11.