PITTSBURGH -- Marlon Byrd spent April swinging and missing, then swinging and missing some more.
"It's the toughest time since I turned things back around two years ago," Byrd said. "I've been putting in a lot of time in with (hitting coach) Don Long and things are slowly starting to come around."
Kind of looks like it.
The veteran outfielder homered and drove in four runs and rookie Michael Lorenzen worked six-plus innings to pick up his first major league win as the Reds drilled the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Tuesday night.
Byrd batted just .163 during the first month of the season, his 25 strikeouts nearly doubling his 13 total hits. Facing a club he helped lead to a playoff berth as a late-season addition in 2013, Byrd drilled a two-run shot off Jeff Locke (2-2) in the third, then ripped a two-run double in the ninth to provide insurance and then some.
"The home run was exciting and the double in the ninth inning was especially exciting because it's a lot easier to manage a game with a six-run lead than a one-run lead or being down a run," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
Todd Frazier belted his National League-leading ninth home run for Cincinnati as the Reds improved to 4-0 against the Pirates this season.
Lorenzen wasn't spectacular but steady. The 23-year-old righty kept the struggling Pirates off balance, giving up one run and three hits, walking three and striking out four. His only hiccup came on a solo homer by Pittsburgh's Starling Marte in the third.
"I kind of collected myself and thought about what a young pitcher who had given up four home runs in his first two starts should do," Lorenzen said. "I thought the answer was pound the strike zone, so that's what I tried to do."
The Pirates have lost four straight and six of seven. Locke (2-2) struggled early before settling down -- and received little help. The Pirates have scored five runs and left 46 runners on base during their four-game slide.
"I don't think there's cause for concern or anybody stressing out or anything," Locke said. "It's still early. ... There's no sense of urgency or anything like that. It's a long season."
The Reds swept the Pirates during a season-opening series in Cincinnati, but have cooled off. Pittsburgh righted itself temporarily at the start of a nine-game road trip last week but dropped two of three to the Chicago Cubs before three walkoff losses in St. Louis.
The Pirates hoped a return home would provide some relief. Pittsburgh came in 10-1 in the last 11 games started by Locke at PNC Park, but the Reds wasted little time putting the Pirates in an early hole.
Frazier led off the second with a shot to the seats in right-center, extending an odd streak in which each of his last five hits were home runs.
Marte cut the lead in half in the bottom of second with a liner over the fence in right field for his seventh home run. The boost didn't last. Two batters into the third, Byrd sent a fastball by Locke over the notch in left-center to make it 4-1.
Locke managed to grind out seven innings, giving up four runs and seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts but his ERA rose to 4.85, easily the worst on Pittsburgh's starting staff.
TAKING BLAME
Pittsburgh star center fielder Andrew McCutchen went 0 for 4 and is now hitting just .185. The 2013 NL MVP is dealing with a left knee injury, but refused to use it as an excuse for his problems.
"Right now, it's under mediocre right now," McCutchen said. "It's bad and I know I'm better than that."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: SS Zack Cozart was given the day off to give his bruised right index finger a little more time to heal. Price said Cozart was available if necessary. Cozart hurt the finger while fielding a groundball from Atlanta pitcher Julio Teheran in the fourth inning Sunday.
Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to make a rehab start at Double-A Altoona on Friday. Morton is recovering from hip surgery. ... Pittsburgh gave struggling 3B Josh Harrison a scheduled day off. The leadoff hitter is batting just .188 this season.
UP NEXT
Gerrit Cole, the National League Pitcher of the Month of April, makes his sixth start of the season Wednesday for Pittsburgh. Cole (4-0, 1.76 ERA) became the first Pirate to be named Pitcher of the Month since Randy Tomlin in June, 1992. The 24-year-old is 8-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his last 10 starts. Cincinnati counters with Mike Leake (1-1, 3.03). Leake is 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in his last nine starts against Pittsburgh.
"It's the toughest time since I turned things back around two years ago," Byrd said. "I've been putting in a lot of time in with (hitting coach) Don Long and things are slowly starting to come around."
Kind of looks like it.
The veteran outfielder homered and drove in four runs and rookie Michael Lorenzen worked six-plus innings to pick up his first major league win as the Reds drilled the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-1 on Tuesday night.
Byrd batted just .163 during the first month of the season, his 25 strikeouts nearly doubling his 13 total hits. Facing a club he helped lead to a playoff berth as a late-season addition in 2013, Byrd drilled a two-run shot off Jeff Locke (2-2) in the third, then ripped a two-run double in the ninth to provide insurance and then some.
"The home run was exciting and the double in the ninth inning was especially exciting because it's a lot easier to manage a game with a six-run lead than a one-run lead or being down a run," Reds manager Bryan Price said.
Todd Frazier belted his National League-leading ninth home run for Cincinnati as the Reds improved to 4-0 against the Pirates this season.
Lorenzen wasn't spectacular but steady. The 23-year-old righty kept the struggling Pirates off balance, giving up one run and three hits, walking three and striking out four. His only hiccup came on a solo homer by Pittsburgh's Starling Marte in the third.
"I kind of collected myself and thought about what a young pitcher who had given up four home runs in his first two starts should do," Lorenzen said. "I thought the answer was pound the strike zone, so that's what I tried to do."
The Pirates have lost four straight and six of seven. Locke (2-2) struggled early before settling down -- and received little help. The Pirates have scored five runs and left 46 runners on base during their four-game slide.
"I don't think there's cause for concern or anybody stressing out or anything," Locke said. "It's still early. ... There's no sense of urgency or anything like that. It's a long season."
The Reds swept the Pirates during a season-opening series in Cincinnati, but have cooled off. Pittsburgh righted itself temporarily at the start of a nine-game road trip last week but dropped two of three to the Chicago Cubs before three walkoff losses in St. Louis.
The Pirates hoped a return home would provide some relief. Pittsburgh came in 10-1 in the last 11 games started by Locke at PNC Park, but the Reds wasted little time putting the Pirates in an early hole.
Frazier led off the second with a shot to the seats in right-center, extending an odd streak in which each of his last five hits were home runs.
Marte cut the lead in half in the bottom of second with a liner over the fence in right field for his seventh home run. The boost didn't last. Two batters into the third, Byrd sent a fastball by Locke over the notch in left-center to make it 4-1.
Locke managed to grind out seven innings, giving up four runs and seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts but his ERA rose to 4.85, easily the worst on Pittsburgh's starting staff.
TAKING BLAME
Pittsburgh star center fielder Andrew McCutchen went 0 for 4 and is now hitting just .185. The 2013 NL MVP is dealing with a left knee injury, but refused to use it as an excuse for his problems.
"Right now, it's under mediocre right now," McCutchen said. "It's bad and I know I'm better than that."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: SS Zack Cozart was given the day off to give his bruised right index finger a little more time to heal. Price said Cozart was available if necessary. Cozart hurt the finger while fielding a groundball from Atlanta pitcher Julio Teheran in the fourth inning Sunday.
Pirates: RHP Charlie Morton threw a bullpen session Tuesday and is scheduled to make a rehab start at Double-A Altoona on Friday. Morton is recovering from hip surgery. ... Pittsburgh gave struggling 3B Josh Harrison a scheduled day off. The leadoff hitter is batting just .188 this season.
UP NEXT
Gerrit Cole, the National League Pitcher of the Month of April, makes his sixth start of the season Wednesday for Pittsburgh. Cole (4-0, 1.76 ERA) became the first Pirate to be named Pitcher of the Month since Randy Tomlin in June, 1992. The 24-year-old is 8-0 with a 2.40 ERA in his last 10 starts. Cincinnati counters with Mike Leake (1-1, 3.03). Leake is 4-0 with a 2.95 ERA in his last nine starts against Pittsburgh.
7:05PM,EDT,May 5,2015
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
PNC Park, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania
| View: Play-By-Play | Pitch-By-Pitch | Inning: All | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 |
| Cincinnati - Top of 1st | SCORE | |
|---|---|---|
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Hamilton bunt popped out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Byrd grounded out to second. | 0 | 0 |
| Votto lined out to left. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 1st | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Polanco grounded out to first. | 0 | 0 |
| Cervelli grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| McCutchen grounded out to shortstop. | 0 | 0 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Frazier homered to center (408 feet). | 1 | 0 |
| Phillips singled to right. | 1 | 0 |
| Bruce singled to right, Phillips to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Negron walked, Phillips to third, Bruce to second. | 1 | 0 |
| Peña grounded into double play, second to shortstop to first, Phillips scored, Negron out at second, Bruce to third. | 2 | 0 |
| Lorenzen struck out swinging. | 2 | 0 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 2nd | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Walker lined out to left. | 2 | 0 |
| Marte homered to right center (369 feet). | 2 | 1 |
| Álvarez struck out swinging. | 2 | 1 |
| Kang grounded out to shortstop. | 2 | 1 |
| 1 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Hamilton singled to right. | 2 | 1 |
| Byrd homered to left center (428 feet), Hamilton scored. | 4 | 1 |
| Votto singled to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Frazier flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Phillips flied out to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Votto caught stealing second, pitcher to first. | 4 | 1 |
| 2 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 3rd | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Mercer grounded out to first. | 4 | 1 |
| Locke struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Polanco struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 4th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Bruce grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Negron grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| Peña grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 4th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Cervelli grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| McCutchen lined out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Walker singled to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Marte walked, Walker to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Álvarez walked, Walker to third, Marte to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Kang lined out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 5th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Lorenzen grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Hamilton struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Byrd struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 5th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Mercer grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Locke grounded out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Polanco struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 6th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Votto walked. | 4 | 1 |
| Frazier singled to center, Votto to third. | 4 | 1 |
| Phillips grounded into fielder's choice to third, Votto out at home, Frazier to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Bruce struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| Negron grounded into fielder's choice to shortstop, Phillips out at second. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 6th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Cervelli grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| McCutchen flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Walker hit by pitch. | 4 | 1 |
| Marte grounded out to third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 7th | SCORE | |
| Jeff Locke pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Peña grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| Lorenzen struck out swinging. | 4 | 1 |
| Hamilton flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 7th | SCORE | |
| Michael Lorenzen pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Álvarez singled to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Kang walked, Álvarez to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Díaz relieved Lorenzen. | 4 | 1 |
| Mercer lined out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Hart hit for Locke. | 4 | 1 |
| Hart grounded into double play, third to first, Álvarez out at third. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 1 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 8th | SCORE | |
| Jared Hughes pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Hughes relieved Locke. | 4 | 1 |
| Byrd grounded out to shortstop. | 4 | 1 |
| Votto singled to right. | 4 | 1 |
| Frazier flied out to center. | 4 | 1 |
| Phillips singled to center, Votto to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Bruce struck out looking. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 8th | SCORE | |
| Tony Cingrani pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Cingrani relieved Díaz. | 4 | 1 |
| Polanco grounded out to pitcher. | 4 | 1 |
| Cervelli walked. | 4 | 1 |
| McCutchen popped out to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Walker flied out to right. | 4 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati - Top of 9th | SCORE | |
| Antonio Bastardo pitching for Pittsburgh | CIN | PIT |
| Bastardo relieved Hughes. | 4 | 1 |
| Negron singled to left. | 4 | 1 |
| Peña sacrificed to first, Negron to second. | 4 | 1 |
| Mesoraco hit for Cingrani. | 4 | 1 |
| Negron stole third. | 4 | 1 |
| Mesoraco walked. | 4 | 1 |
| Hamilton reached on infield single to pitcher, Negron scored, Mesoraco to second. | 5 | 1 |
| Byrd doubled to deep right, Mesoraco and Hamilton scored. | 7 | 1 |
| Votto grounded out to second, Byrd to third. | 7 | 1 |
| Frazier grounded out to third. | 7 | 1 |
| 3 Runs, 3 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Pittsburgh - Bottom of 9th | SCORE | |
| Aroldis Chapman pitching for Cincinnati | CIN | PIT |
| Chapman relieved Cingrani. | 7 | 1 |
| Marte walked. | 7 | 1 |
| Álvarez struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
| Kang walked, Marte to second. | 7 | 1 |
| Mercer walked, Marte to third, Kang to second. | 7 | 1 |
| Rodriguez hit for Bastardo. | 7 | 1 |
| Rodriguez struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
| Polanco struck out swinging. | 7 | 1 |
| 0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors | ||
| Cincinnati Reds | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hitters | AB | R | H | RBI | BB | SO | #P | AVG | OBP | SLG |
| Hamilton CF | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 19 | .214 | .267 | .337 |
| Byrd LF | 5 | 1 | 2 | 4 | 0 | 1 | 14 | .193 | .226 | .364 |
| Votto 1B | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 14 | .330 | .435 | .608 |
| Frazier 3B | 5 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .224 | .313 | .541 |
| Phillips 2B | 4 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | .298 | .327 | .340 |
| Bruce RF | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 18 | .184 | .301 | .414 |
| Negron SS | 3 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 17 | .077 | .226 | .077 |
| Peña C | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 13 | .286 | .369 | .339 |
| Lorenzen P | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 13 | .200 | .200 | .200 |
Díaz P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
Cingrani P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
a-Mesoraco PH
| 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 7 | .083 | .241 | .083 |
Chapman P
| 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | .000 | .000 | .000 |
| Totals | 36 | 7 | 12 | 6 | 3 | 6 | 139 | |||
| a-walked for T Cingrani in the 9th | ||||||||||
| BATTING 2B: Byrd (3, Bastardo) HR: Frazier (9, 2nd inning off Locke 0 on, 0 Out); Byrd (4, 3rd inning off Locke 1 on, 0 Out) RBI: Frazier (18), Byrd 4 (13), Hamilton (4) S: Peña GIDP: Peña Reds RISP: 2-10 (Bruce 0-2, Negron 0-1, Frazier 0-1, Phillips 0-1, Peña 0-1, Votto 0-1, Hamilton 1-1, Lorenzen 0-1, Byrd 1-1) Team LOB: 6 | ||||||||||
| BASERUNNING SB: Negron (1, 3rd base off Bastardo/Cervelli) CS: Votto (1, 2nd base by Locke) Picked Off: Votto (1st base by Locke) | ||||||||||
| FIELDING DP: 1 (Frazier-Votto). | ||||||||||
Game Information
| Stadium | PNC Park, Pittsburgh, PA |
| Attendance | 16,822 (43.9% full) - % is based on regular season capacity |
| Game Time | 2:50 |
| Weather | 73 degrees, partly cloudy |
| Wind | 7 mph |
| Umpires | Home Plate - Ted Barrett, First Base - Chris Conroy, Second Base - Angel Hernandez, Third Base - Scott Barry |
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