PITTSBURGH (AP) — Oneil Cruz hit a tie-breaking single in the bottom of the eighth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a sweep of Cincinnati with a 1-0 win on Sunday.
Pirates rookie shortstop Konnor Griffin doubled off the centerfield wall against Reds reliever Tony Santillan (1-1) with two outs in the eighth. Pinch hitter Jake Mangum worked a full count walk and Cruz followed by lacing a single to center. Griffin beat TJ Friedl’s throw home with ease as Pittsburgh responded to by taking three straight from the Reds.
Gregory Soto (3-0) got the last four outs after taking over following a brilliant performance by starter Braxton Ashcraft.
A day after seven pitchers combined to issue 11 walks — including an at one point — Cincinnati rookie Chase Burns was far more efficient while matching Ashcraft pitch for pitch
Ashcraft bounced back from a rocky performance in a loss to St. Louis with the best start of his young career. The 26-year-old allowed four hits over 7 2/3 innings with a pair of walks and six strikeouts. He also benefited from a couple of excellent defensive plays behind him.
Second baseman Brandon Lowe — all 5-foot-9 of him — climbed the ladder to rob JJ Bleday of a hit to end the sixth, a snag that came with Friedl on second base representing the go-ahead run. Third baseman Nick Gonzales threw out Cincinnati’s Spencer Steer at the plate to help Pittsburgh get out of a two-on, one-out threat in the eighth.
Burns, a 23-year-old rookie, was perhaps even better. The hard-throwing right-hander, whose fastball easily tops 100 mph, allowed a leadoff infield single to Cruz, then retired 16 straight before Joey Bart’s single with one out in the sixth. Burns allowed three hits in seven-plus innings, with a walk and seven strikeouts, to lower his ERA to 2.20.
Up next
Reds: Head to Chicago on Monday for a four-game series against the Cubs.
Pirates: Start a six-game trip on Tuesday in Arizona.
___
AP MLB:
