- Cincinnati records 11 hits in dominant road performance
- Lodolo strikes out 7 across 6 quality innings
- Pirates fail to score 4+ runs for 25th straight game
The surging Cincinnati Reds capitalized on Pittsburgh's defensive miscues and stagnant offense to secure their longest win streak of the season. Austin Hays led the charge with three hits and two RBIs, including the decisive sixth-inning rally that began with Isiah Kiner-Falefa's throwing error. Nick Lodolo continued his midseason resurgence, holding the Pirates to four hits while matching his second-highest strikeout total this year.
Pittsburgh's offensive struggles reached historic proportions, marking their 25th consecutive game without exceeding three runs scored - the longest such streak in franchise history since 1968. Manager Don Kelly's interim leadership has yet to spark improvement, with the club posting a .238 team batting average since his May 8th promotion. Mitch Keller's hard-luck season continued as the right-hander fell to 1-6 despite allowing just one earned run over six frames.
The Reds' bullpen trio of Lynn Richardson, Scott Barlow, and Brent Suter preserved the lead with three scoreless innings, extending their collective ERA to 2.89 since May 1st. Cincinnati's late-game explosion featured multi-run rallies in both the eighth and ninth innings, highlighted by Elly De La Cruz's two RBIs and Gavin Lux's clutch hitting.
Industry analysts note the Reds' improved plate discipline as a key growth area, with their strikeout rate dropping 8% since April. Regional comparisons show NL Central teams now averaging 1.3 more runs per game against Pittsburgh than other divisions - a trend the Pirates must reverse to avoid becoming sellers at the trade deadline.
With the victory, Cincinnati moves within three games of .500 while Pittsburgh sinks to the second-worst record in the National League. The teams continue their series Tuesday night as Nick Martinez looks to build on his 3.66 ERA against left-hander Bailey Falter.
