Reds top the Pirates on a walk-off winner in the 9th

The Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-2 on a walk-off fielder’s choice by way of Nathaniel Lowe’s speed down the first base line Thursday night at Great American Ball Park.

FinalRHEPittsburgh Pirates (55-55)270Cincinnati Reds (51-57)390W: Emilio Pagan (3-1) L: Gregory Soto (5-3)Statcast | Box Score | Game Thread

The Reds had a leadoff base runner in the first and second innings, but failed to score in either inning, and it looked like it might be the same old story for the Reds on Thursday. Third times the charm though, and it came off Pirates rookie reliever Hunter Barco tonight. Matt McLain, freshly activated from the injured list, led off the inning with a bloop single to right field. Elly De La Cruz laced a 108.6 mph double to the left center field gap that scored McLain and the Reds took a 1-0 lead. One out later, Sal Stewart stepped to the plate and beat the shift with a sharp ground ball to right field, scoring De La Cruz to make it 2-0.

Aside from a couple of two-out hits, Rhett Lowder was cruising through four innings. Lowder faced his first real hurdle in the fifth when he allowed a lead-off double to Nick Gonzales and a single to Endy Rodriguez to start the inning. He managed to limit the damage to just a sacrifice fly and maintain the Reds’ lead at 2-1, and did so with only 12 pitches despite the baserunners.

The Reds threatened in the fifth with runners at the corners and one out. JJ Bleday was caught stealing for the second out, but Tyler Stephenson walked. Nathaniel Lowe ended the inning with a sharply hit ground ball to second base.

The Pirates best hitter, Brandon Lowe, jumped all over a first pitch slider from Lowder to lead off the sixth inning, tying the game at two in the sixth with a 402 ft monster shot that landed halfway up the moon deck. It was Lowe’s 23rd home run of the season. Lowder left after six innings, recording a quality start with two runs allowed on five hits with five strikeouts and zero walks.

The Reds threatened again in the sixth by getting the first two runners on base with a Eugenio Suárez leadoff walk and a seeing eye single to left field from Dane Myers. Noelvi Marte and Matt McLain struck out swinging back-to-back against another Pirates rookie reliever in Noah Murdock, and De La Cruz chased a pitch out of the zone and weakly grounded a high chopper to the second baseman to end the inning. The Reds loaded the bases with one out in the seventh, but Suárez grounded into a tailor-made double play to end the inning.

Brock Burke, Tejay Antone and Emilio Pagan combined for three scoreless innings out of the bullpen to keep the game tied at two, though Burke faced a high-leverage situation in the seventh by putting two Pirates runners on base via walk with only one out and loading the bases with two outs after a hit by pitch. It brought Brandon Lowe to the plate with the bases loaded, but Burke was able to get Lowe to strike out on a checked swing slider to end the inning.

In the bottom of the ninth, De Le Cruz led off the ninth with a screaming 115.7 mph double to the left field warning track. The Pirates intentionally walked Stewart and one out later, Stephenson walked to load the bases. Nathaniel Lowe hit a ground ball to second base, but the Pirates infielders were playing in with only one out, and had trouble turning the double play quickly. Lowe beat out the throw, allowing De La Cruz to score the winning run and win the game for the Reds.

Key Moment of the Game

Nathaniel Lowe beat out a potential double play on a chopper to second with one out in the ninth that allowed De La Cruz to score the winning run and get the Reds a 3-2 walk-off win.

Notes Worth Noting

-De La Cruz was hitless in his last 10 at-bats coming into tonight’s game. He was 3-for-4 tonight with three doubles, a walk, an RBI, two runs scored, and two stolen bases.

-Stewart’s 8oth RBI is third most through the month of July for National League rookies since 1920. He’s already surpassed both Albert Pujols and Pete Alonso.

-Lowder threw 15 of 23 first pitch strikes for a 65% percentage. He also a 47% whiff rate on his slider and a 44% whiff rate on his changeup.