Game : Pirates 5 Reds 4

Here is the scoring progression from tonight’s Pirates/Reds game: 

• 1-0 Reds
• 2-1 Pirates
• 2-2
• 3-2 Pirates
• 3-3
• 4-3 Pirates
• 4-4
• 5-4 Pirates win Pirates win 

Here are the scoring plays for the Pirates tonight:

• Neil Walker doubles in Alex Presley
• Garrett Jones sac fly to score Walker
• Garrett Jones singles in Alex Presley
• Mike McKenry sac fly to score Jose Tabata
• Mike McKenry doubles in Clint Barmes

This was an incredibly back and forth game and the Pirates got help from all kinds of unexpected sources. With the game tied in the bottom of the tenth inning and the best reliever in baseball on the mound — Aroldis Chapman, who hadn’t allowed an earned run before tonight — Clint Barmes and Mike McKenry hit back to back doubles to give the Pirates a lead they wouldn’t relinquish. 

I haven’t even mentioned the bullpen yet. In the bottom of the sixth inning, Kevin Correia let three straight hitters reach base and a run had already scored to tied the game at three. Jared Hughes came on with no outs and runners on the corners. He got a fielder’s choice, a strikeout, and a lazy flyout to center. Disaster averted. In the seventh inning, Tony Watson came in with a 4-3 lead, a runner on first, and Joey Votto up. Watson struck him out. In the tenth, Chris Resop entered the game as the only real option to close the game out after Joel Hanrahan blew a save in the ninth. He gave up a leadoff double to Joey Votto, intentionally walked Jay Bruce, and absolutely froze Ryan Ludwick with a two-out, two-strike fastball to nail down the game and the series win. 

What a game.

Entering a 15-game interleague stretch, the Pirates are 29-27. They’ve won four straight series against the NL Central (record: 9-3) and they’re two games out of first place. Bring on the Royals, Orioles, Indians, Twins, and Tigers. Let’s see where this goes.