CINCINNATI — The Pirates stole the Reds' weekend momentum with an 8-5 beatdown in the first game of Monday’s day-night double-header at Great American Ball Park.
The Pirates broke a 4-4 tie with four runs in the eighth off reliever David Hernandez (1-3), spoiling the afternoon for Reds fans lifted by their winning 2-of-3 at Wrigley Field. Bryan Reynolds hit a two-run triple after Cole Tucker doubled and Adam Frazier was hit by a pitch. Sterling Marte then followed with a two-run homer.
The Reds threatened in the bottom of the ninth after Joey Votto and Eugenio Suarez singled. Both players had three hits.
But Kyle Farmer struck out, Curt Casali hit a one-out sacrifice fly, and Yasiel Puig grounded out to end it.
Luis Castillo hit a rough patch in the sixth inning and Votto made a costly error that allowed the Pirates, coming off a three-game losing streak, to wipe out a 3-1 Reds' lead.
After Melky Cabrera and Colin Moran led off with singles, Elias Diaz grounded to short. Moran was forced at second but Votto dropped the double-play throw to first.
Cabrera then scored on Kevin Newman’s grounder to short, and Amir Garrett replaced Castillo. Gregory Polanco singled, scoring Diaz.
Castillo allowed three runs (two earned) in 5 1/3 innings. He gave up six hits and four walks while striking out four.
Pirates slugger Josh Bell broke the 3-3 tie in the seventh with his 17th homer off Garrett. The Reds loaded the bases on walks to Jose Peraza and Nick Senzel and a Votto single in the bottom of the inning, but they managed only one run on Suarez’s sacrifice fly.
Senzel struck out to end another bases-loaded opportunity in the eighth.
Trailing 1-0, the Reds scored three runs in the fifth inning on RBI doubles by Senzel, Votto and Suarez off Pirates starter Nick Kingham.
Elias Diaz knocked in the Pirates’ first run with a sacrifice fly in the fourth inning.
Sonny Gray (1-4) faces Mitch Keller, making his major-league debut, in the 7:10 nightcap.
NO. 26
The Reds added lefty Cody Reed as their 26th player for the doubleheader.
HIT AWAY
Pirates right fielder Melky Cabrera was hit in the right elbow by a Castillo pitch with one out in the fourth inning. Cabrera angrily flung his bat in the direction of the Pittsburgh dugout, but he stayed in the game.
Hernandez plunked Frazier on the right foot with a pitch in the eighth. Frazier stayed in the game.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Reds: LHP Alex Wood has rejoined the team after spending the season at extended spring training in Arizona working out tightness in his lower back. He has started a throwing program that eventually will lead to bullpen sessions, followed by a rehab assignment.
