CINCINNATI -- Marlon Byrd finally helped the team that wanted him.
Joey Votto added to his resurgent series with his first homer since May 10, and Gregory Polanco's ninth-inning error on Byrd's line drive sent the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory and a season-opening sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
The Reds improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won their first five games. The Pirates hadn't lost their first three games of a season since 2006, when they started 0-6 on the road.
"Well, you play 162 and see where you are when the dust settles," manager Bryan Price said. "Three games really doesn't suggest anything. That being said, 3-0 is a nice start for us."
Votto hit a tying two-run homer in the sixth inning. The NL's Most Valuable Player of 2010 didn't play after July 5 last season because of strained muscles above his left knee. He was 5 for 14 with four RBIs in the series.
Todd Frazier led off the ninth with a double off Rob Scahill (0-1) and advanced on Devin Mesoraco's groundout. After Jay Bruce was intentionally walked, Polanco muffed Byrd's liner to right for a game-ending error.
Heading into that at-bat, Byrd -- the Reds' biggest offseason acquisition -- was 2 for 12 with six strikeouts.
"It's been a tough couple of days with the rain and the at-bats," Byrd said. "That was the first ball I hit to right field on a line."
Aroldis Chapman (1-0) fanned two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.
Pedro Alvarez singled, homered and scored twice for the Pirates, who wasted leads in each of the last two games.
All three games had rain delays, with Thursday's featuring a 1-hour, 14-minute break in the middle of the fourth inning. The three delays totaled 4 hours, 23 minutes.
The first pitch on Thursday came less than 12 hours after Votto's RBI single in the 11th inning gave Cincinnati a 5-4 victory at 1:26 a.m.
"Wins always energize a team," Byrd said. "As long as you get the `W,' it doesn't matter how much sleep you get. Four hours, five hours, it doesn't matter."
Anthony DeSclafani, acquired from Miami in the trade for Mat Latos, made his first start for the Reds and gave up five hits over six innings, fanning six. Polanco's infield single with the bases loaded scored Alvarez in the fifth. Alvarez had a solo homer in the sixth for a 2-0 lead.
A.J. Burnett, who lost an NL-leading 18 games last season with the Phillies, made a solid start in his return to the Pirates. He gave up four hits and fanned seven in 5 1/3 innings. Votto's homer tied it 2-2 in the sixth.
RAIN MEN
Each of the three games in the series had a rain delay. The three delays totaled 4 hours, 23 minutes. Last season, there were 15 rain delays at Great American Ball Park lasting 18 hours, 11 minutes.
LOVE THE PLACE
Alvarez's homer was the 134th by the Pirates at Great American, the most by any visiting team in the park's 13-year history. Also, Pittsburgh has won 49 games there, the most by an opponent.
BILLY KEEPS RUNNING
Billy Hamilton stole two more bases on Thursday, leaving him 6 for 6 in attempts during the series.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: Josh Harrison was hit in the lower back by DeSclafini's pitch in the fifth but stayed in the game.
Reds: No decision has been made on where Homer Bailey will make his rehab start on April 12. He's recovering from surgery on his right forearm last September.
ON DECK:
Pirates: Jeff Locke starts the opener of a series in Milwaukee. He's 2-2 in seven career starts against the Brewers.
Reds: Jason Marquis makes his first start in the majors since July 19, 2013, facing the Cardinals. He had Tommy John surgery in 2013 and pitched in the Phillies' farm system last year.
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Clear
Joey Votto added to his resurgent series with his first homer since May 10, and Gregory Polanco's ninth-inning error on Byrd's line drive sent the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory and a season-opening sweep of the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday.
The Reds improved to 3-0 for the first time since 2011, when they won their first five games. The Pirates hadn't lost their first three games of a season since 2006, when they started 0-6 on the road.
"Well, you play 162 and see where you are when the dust settles," manager Bryan Price said. "Three games really doesn't suggest anything. That being said, 3-0 is a nice start for us."
Votto hit a tying two-run homer in the sixth inning. The NL's Most Valuable Player of 2010 didn't play after July 5 last season because of strained muscles above his left knee. He was 5 for 14 with four RBIs in the series.
Todd Frazier led off the ninth with a double off Rob Scahill (0-1) and advanced on Devin Mesoraco's groundout. After Jay Bruce was intentionally walked, Polanco muffed Byrd's liner to right for a game-ending error.
Heading into that at-bat, Byrd -- the Reds' biggest offseason acquisition -- was 2 for 12 with six strikeouts.
"It's been a tough couple of days with the rain and the at-bats," Byrd said. "That was the first ball I hit to right field on a line."
Aroldis Chapman (1-0) fanned two of the three batters he faced in the ninth.
Pedro Alvarez singled, homered and scored twice for the Pirates, who wasted leads in each of the last two games.
All three games had rain delays, with Thursday's featuring a 1-hour, 14-minute break in the middle of the fourth inning. The three delays totaled 4 hours, 23 minutes.
The first pitch on Thursday came less than 12 hours after Votto's RBI single in the 11th inning gave Cincinnati a 5-4 victory at 1:26 a.m.
"Wins always energize a team," Byrd said. "As long as you get the `W,' it doesn't matter how much sleep you get. Four hours, five hours, it doesn't matter."
Anthony DeSclafani, acquired from Miami in the trade for Mat Latos, made his first start for the Reds and gave up five hits over six innings, fanning six. Polanco's infield single with the bases loaded scored Alvarez in the fifth. Alvarez had a solo homer in the sixth for a 2-0 lead.
A.J. Burnett, who lost an NL-leading 18 games last season with the Phillies, made a solid start in his return to the Pirates. He gave up four hits and fanned seven in 5 1/3 innings. Votto's homer tied it 2-2 in the sixth.
RAIN MEN
Each of the three games in the series had a rain delay. The three delays totaled 4 hours, 23 minutes. Last season, there were 15 rain delays at Great American Ball Park lasting 18 hours, 11 minutes.
LOVE THE PLACE
Alvarez's homer was the 134th by the Pirates at Great American, the most by any visiting team in the park's 13-year history. Also, Pittsburgh has won 49 games there, the most by an opponent.
BILLY KEEPS RUNNING
Billy Hamilton stole two more bases on Thursday, leaving him 6 for 6 in attempts during the series.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: Josh Harrison was hit in the lower back by DeSclafini's pitch in the fifth but stayed in the game.
Reds: No decision has been made on where Homer Bailey will make his rehab start on April 12. He's recovering from surgery on his right forearm last September.
ON DECK:
Pirates: Jeff Locke starts the opener of a series in Milwaukee. He's 2-2 in seven career starts against the Brewers.
Reds: Jason Marquis makes his first start in the majors since July 19, 2013, facing the Cardinals. He had Tommy John surgery in 2013 and pitched in the Phillies' farm system last year.
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12:35PM,EDT,April 9,2015
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Pittsburgh - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Anthony DeSclafani pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Harrison flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Polanco lined out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| McCutchen walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Walker lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| A.J. Burnett pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Hamilton struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Frazier grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Anthony DeSclafani pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Marte grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| Álvarez struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Mercer lined out to center. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| A.J. Burnett pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Mesoraco singled to left. | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Byrd singled to left center, Mesoraco to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Phillips grounded into double play, shortstop to second to first, Byrd out at second. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Anthony DeSclafani pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Sanchez struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Burnett struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison flied out to right. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| A.J. Burnett pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Cozart grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| DeSclafani struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton walked. | 0 | 0 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto struck out looking. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Anthony DeSclafani pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Polanco singled to center. | 0 | 0 |
| Polanco stole second. | 0 | 0 |
| McCutchen popped out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Walker struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Marte popped out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| A.J. Burnett pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Frazier grounded out to third. | 0 | 0 |
| Mesoraco struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Bruce grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Anthony DeSclafani pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Álvarez singled to right. | 0 | 0 |
| Mercer singled to center, Álvarez to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Sanchez struck out swinging. | 0 | 0 |
| Burnett sacrificed to third, Álvarez to third, Mercer to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Harrison hit by pitch. | 0 | 0 |
| Polanco reached on infield single to shortstop, Álvarez scored, Mercer to third, Harrison to second. | 1 | 0 |
| McCutchen grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Polanco out at second. | 1 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| A.J. Burnett pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Byrd struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Phillips popped out to shortstop. | 1 | 0 |
| Cozart struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Anthony DeSclafani pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Walker flied out to center. | 1 | 0 |
| Marte struck out swinging. | 1 | 0 |
| Álvarez homered to left (368 feet). | 2 | 0 |
| Mercer popped out to shortstop. | 2 | 0 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| A.J. Burnett pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Schumaker hit for DeSclafani. | 2 | 0 |
| Schumaker singled to center. | 2 | 0 |
| Hamilton grounded into fielder's choice to second, Schumaker out at second. | 2 | 0 |
| Hamilton stole second. | 2 | 0 |
| Votto homered to center (413 feet), Hamilton scored. | 2 | 2 |
| Caminero relieved Burnett. | 2 | 2 |
| Frazier flied out to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Mesoraco fouled out to first. | 2 | 2 |
| 2 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Burke Badenhop pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Badenhop relieved DeSclafani. | 2 | 2 |
| Sanchez walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Lambo hit for Caminero. | 2 | 2 |
| Lambo lined out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Harrison grounded into double play, shortstop to first, Sanchez out at second. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Antonio Bastardo pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Bastardo relieved Caminero. | 2 | 2 |
| Bruce struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Byrd fouled out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Phillips singled to center. | 2 | 2 |
| Cozart flied out to center. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jumbo Diaz pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Díaz relieved Badenhop. | 2 | 2 |
| Polanco struck out looking. | 2 | 2 |
| McCutchen struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Walker doubled to left. | 2 | 2 |
| Marte struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Watson pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Watson relieved Bastardo. | 2 | 2 |
| Negron hit for Díaz. | 2 | 2 |
| Negron lined out to right. | 2 | 2 |
| Hamilton grounded out to pitcher. | 2 | 2 |
| Votto struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Aroldis Chapman pitching for Cincinnati | PIT | CIN |
| Chapman relieved Díaz. | 2 | 2 |
| Álvarez struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| Mercer fouled out to catcher. | 2 | 2 |
| Sanchez struck out swinging. | 2 | 2 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Rob Scahill pitching for Pittsburgh | PIT | CIN |
| Scahill relieved Watson. | 2 | 2 |
| Kang at shortstop. | 2 | 2 |
| Frazier doubled to deep left center. | 2 | 2 |
| Mesoraco grounded out to shortstop, Frazier to third. | 2 | 2 |
| Bruce intentionally walked. | 2 | 2 |
| Byrd safe at first on error by right fielder Polanco, Frazier scored, Bruce to second. | 2 | 3 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 1 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh Pirates | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Harrison 3B | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .250 | .357 | .333 |
| Polanco RF | 4 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 10 | .308 | .357 | .308 |
| McCutchen CF | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 17 | .167 | .286 | .417 |
| Walker 2B | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 13 | .182 | .231 | .273 |
| Marte LF | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 11 | .077 | .077 | .154 |
| Álvarez 1B | 4 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 12 | .300 | .300 | .700 |
| Mercer SS | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | .182 | .308 | .182 |
Scahill P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Sanchez C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 23 | .000 | .200 | .000 |
| Burnett P | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Caminero P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Lambo PH
| 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | .000 | .333 | .000 |
Bastardo P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Watson P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Kang SS
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 31 | 2 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 11 | 113 | |||
| a-lined out to right for A Caminero in the 7th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Walker (1, Díaz) HR: Álvarez (1, 6th inning off DeSclafani 0 on, 2 Out) RBI: Polanco (1), Álvarez (2) S: Burnett 2-out RBI: Polanco, Álvarez GIDP: Harrison Pirates RISP: 1-7 (Walker 0-1, McCutchen 0-2, Marte 0-2, Sanchez 0-1, Polanco 1-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Polanco (2, 2nd base off DeSclafani/Mesoraco) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING E: Polanco (1, catch) DP: 1 (Mercer-Walker-Álvarez). | ||||||||||
Game Notes
| The game has resumed in the top of the fourth inning after a 1 hour and 14 minute rain delay. |
Game Information
| Stadium | Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, OH |
| Attendance | 15,616 (36.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:32 |
| Weather | 73 degrees, cloudy |
| Wind | 13 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Bill Welke, First Base - James Hoye, Second Base - John Hirschbeck, Third Base - Sam Holbrook |
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