Pittsburgh Pirates

Pirates’ offense falls stagnant in 5-3 loss to Reds

CINCINNATI — A seventh inning home run by Nick Castellanos was the deciding blow in a 5-3 Pirates loss to the Reds Monday at Great American Ball Park, capping a game that started and finished with a spark of offense from the Pirates’ offense, but nothing in between.

Castellanos pounced on a Sam Howard fastball, and with a left-handed toss of his bat towards the Reds’ dugout, completed the comeback.

In the first, Phillip Evans and Colin Moran were both able to turn on inside but belt-high secondary pitches from José De León and put them in the seats. Evans’ homer was off a changeup. Moran’s was on a slider.

From the second to eighth inning, the Pirates’ only hit was a rolled single from starter JT Brubaker, and their only other base runners came on two walks and an error.

Bryan Reynolds opened the ninth with a home run to center, followed by a Moran bloop, but Reds closer Amir Garrett closed the door there.

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