PITTSBURGH (AP) — Jordan Lyles pitched five effective innings in his Pittsburgh debut and the Pirates extended the Cincinnati Reds’ scoreless streak with a 2-0 victory Thursday night.
A day after the Reds got three hits in a 1-0 loss to Milwaukee, they managed six hits against four Pittsburgh pitchers.
Lyles, who played for San Diego and Milwaukee last year, allowed three hits. He walked three and struck out two. Lyles was activated from the injured list before the game after being out with discomfort on his right side.
Nick Kingham (1-0) pitched two innings of relief, conceding two hits and striking out two. Richard Rodriguez bounced back with a shutout inning after being scored upon in his first two outings of the season.
Felipe Vazquez escaped a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth to earn his first save of the season by striking out three.
Reds starter Mike Mahle threw six scoreless innings in his season debut. He allowed five hits and struck out five without a walk.
With one out in the seventh, Melky Cabrera singled and was replaced by pinch runner Pablo Reyes. A single and Kevin Newman’s infield dribbler back to pitcher David Hernandez (0-1) made it 1-0. Cabrera finished with three hits.
Josh Bell singled home Starling Marte with an insurance run in the eighth.
