:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/61592159/usa_today_11344991.0.jpg)
Jameson Taillon’s bid for a 15th win fell short Saturday and the Pirates dropped a 3-0 contest to the Reds.
Taillon (14-10) started shaky, allowing a run in the third before Eugenio Suarez took him deep to center to open the fourth. He was on the hook for another run when catcher Jacob Stallings failed to hang on to Corey Dickerson’s bullet throw from left.
But Taillon finished his outing and his season strong, allowing those three earned runs over six innings of work, striking out seven with no walks allowed.
It is Taillon’s 22nd consecutive start allowing three earned runs or fewer.
The Pirates had a hard time getting anything going against Reds starter Michael Lorenzen (4-2) during his 5.2 scoreless frames. They did spark a two out rally in the top of the sixth, loading the bases and chasing Lorenzen, but David Hernandez was brought in to retire Josh Harrison and got out of the jam.
Raisel Iglesias picked up his 30th save for the Reds.
Bruises For The Bucs
Both right fielder Adam Frazier and shortstop Jordy Mercer were removed in the fourth inning as a precaution to injuries. Frazier was removed with right hamstring tightness while Mercer was experiencing right forearm discomfort after being struck by a batted ball in the first inning.
On Deck
The Pirates will start Clay Holmes (1-3, 7.25) in the season finale Sunday. The Reds will go with Sal Romano (8-11, 5.37), with the final first coming at 3.10 p.m..
NUMB3RS
1. Taillon is currently ninth in the NL in ERA (3.20) and Trevor Williams is 7th (3.11). This is the first time two Pirates were in the top 10 in NL ERA since 1991 (Doug Drabek, Randy Tomlin).
2. Taillon went 12-6 with 131 strikeouts and a 2.71 ERA over his final 22 starts this season (139.2 IP).
3. Felipe Vazquez struck out two of his three batters he faced in the eighth inning Saturday. His 29.7 K% will break his own record for the best strikeout rate among a lefty reliever in Pirates history (29.3% in 2017). The only Pirates relievers with a higher K% in a season are Jason Grilli (2012, 2013), Joel Hanrahan (2010), Richard Rodriguez (2018) and Juan Nicasio (2016).