Fundamentals cost Pirates in series-opening loss to Reds

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Apr 11, 2025

Published in Baseball

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CINCINNATI — Fundamentals cost the Pirates again on Friday night. In the first three innings, Pirates starter Bailey Falter walked five batters and threw two wild pitches, catcher Endy Rodriguez had a costly throwing error, and Pittsburgh fell behind 5-0 despite allowing just one hit.

The Pirates were able to cut into that lead but fell anyways, losing to the Reds 5-3 in the series opener at Great American Ball Park. Pittsburgh fell to 5-9.

Disaster started quickly, as Falter walked the first three batters he faced. He looked like he might have gotten away with it with minimal damage after getting designated hitter Spencer Steer to ground into a double play, but caught too much of the plate on a 2-0 fastball to third baseman Jeimer Candelario. Candelario hit it into the left-field bleachers, putting the Pirates behind 3-0 before they got three outs.

It got worse in the third inning. Two more Reds reached on two more walks, and shortstop Elly De La Cruz took off for third on a pitch in the dirt. Rodriguez, in for injured starter Joey Bart, pulled his throw down the left-field line all the way to the foul pole, allowing De La Cruz to score easily and Steer to come around from first base.

The Pirates got back into it in the fifth inning. After a Jack Suwinski walk, left fielder Tommy Pham doubled him home, the Pirates’ first hit off a starting pitcher in over 10 innings and first run off a starter since Bryan Reynolds’ homer in the second inning on Tuesday. Right fielder Adam Frazier then snapped an 0-for-15 skid with a two-run homer to right field, cutting the Reds’ lead to 5-3.

Relievers Chase Shugart and Joey Wentz kept the Reds scoreless in the final three innings. Wentz struck out two and didn’t allow a hit in 1 2/3 scoreless innings.

It was over when …

Reds closer Emilio Pagan slammed the door, striking out Rodriguez and third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes before getting right fielder Suwinski to weakly fly out.

On the mound

Falter’s issue was his command. He gave up just three hits, but allowed five runs because he walked five and threw two wild pitches. Of his 79 pitches, just 45 were strikes. His five walks were a career high.

At the plate

The Pirates mustered just four hits, continuing a season-long offensive slump. Two of those hits failed to reach second base, as Reynolds, who singled in the eighth inning, was immediately forced out on a fielder’s choice. Rodriguez blasted a single off the wall in the sixth inning, but was thrown out trying to make it a double.

Most valuable player

Candelario’s home run was a difference maker, putting the Pirates in an early deficit they couldn't recover from.

Up next

The Pirates continue their three-game series against the Reds in Cincinnati on Saturday at 6:40 p.m. Left-hander Andrew Heaney (0-0, 1.50 ERA) will face Reds lefty Andrew Abbott. Abbott will be making his season debut after suffering a shoulder injury last August. The game will be televised on SportsNet Pittsburgh and broadcast on the radio on 93.7 The Fan.