CINCINNATI — Bryan Reynolds extended the longest active hitting streak in the major leagues to 22 games with a two-run home run in the first inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-5 on Tuesday night.
Reynolds’ streak is the longest by a Pirate since 2003 when Kenny Lofton hit safely in 26 straight games. Jason Kendall and Aramis Ramirez had 23- and 22-game streaks respectively.
“Every at-bat's new and different,” Reynolds said. “Every pitcher's trying to do something different to you. Just restarts every day.”
It was a rough start for the Reds' Hunter Greene who was evaluated by training staff after throwing up on the mound in the first inning following a six-pitch walk to leadoff batter Andrew McCutchen.
Reynolds followed with his home run on a 3-2 pitch to put the Pirates ahead 2-0.
“Just battling, got to two strikes and fouled off some pitches until I got something to hit,” Reynolds said. “I got a slider in the middle.”
Greene (5-3) worked through a three-run, 32-pitch first inning and managed to last four innings, allowing six earned runs on seven hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
“Nobody really knows (what caused it) but it is a lot of liquid built up in my system,” Greene said. “The only way it seems to come out is by vomiting. It just sits on my chest. No one wants to go out and get sick. After that I did a good job of getting ahead of hitters but didn’t do a good job of putting them away.”
The Pirates hit five straight singles to begin a three-run third inning, increasing their lead to 6-0.
“It was a rough first inning,” Reds manager David Bell said of Greene. “Getting sick on the mound had some sort of effect. Hunter has been so good for us. He’ll be ready for his next start.”
Jared Triolo's two-run home run off Buck Farmer made the score 8-0 in the fifth.
“We continued to add on, had really consistent at-bats all night,” Pirates manager Derek Shelton said.
Pittsburgh's Mitch Keller (9-4) allowed three earned runs on six hits in 5 2/3 innings, extending his streak of pitching at least five innings to 47 straight games.
“Didn't have his sharpest command,” Shelton said. “I don't think the sinker was as good as we've seen in the past. That's why Mitch Keller is an elite starting pitcher. Even without his best stuff he was able to navigate through the game.”
Keller's streak is the longest since the Braves' Max Fried went 50 straight starts from June 6, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2022. It’s the longest by a Pirate since A.J. Burnett went 49 straight starts from May 8, 2012 to Aug. 10, 2013.
“It's extremely comforting, especially with the injuries we've had with our starting pitchers,” Shelton said.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Reds: LHP Nick Lodolo (left finger blister) was placed on the 15-day injured list, retroactive to June 24. ... 1B Christian Encarnacion-Strand (right ulnar styloid fracture) will have season-ending surgery on July 11 to repair the ligament damage in his wrist.
Pirates: LHP Ryan Borucki (right triceps inflammation) began a rehab assignment Tuesday night with Triple-A Indianapolis.
UP NEXT
The Pirates and Reds conclude their three-game series on Wednesday afternoon. Neither team had named their starting pitcher.
