CINCINNATI -- Desperate for a win, the Reds were seeking anything that would bring a shift in momentum. When that finally came during the first game of Saturday's doubleheader vs. the Pirates, the question that followed: Could they sustain it?
A 9-2 Cincinnati victory in Game 1 snapped its nine-game losing streak. But earning back-to-back wins for the first time in 2022 was not to be after the Reds fell to the Pirates, 8-5, in Game 2 to bring their overall record to 4-23.
“I like [the team’s at-bats] right now, and we’re scoring runs. It’s a hard game," said Brandon Drury, who was 5-for-8 in the two games with a three-run homer in Game 2. "We’re trying to put it all together as a team and go on a little win streak here and start winning some ballgames in a row.”
The eighth inning of Game 1 was one of the Reds' finest this season, despite beginning it in perilous fashion. Reliever Lucas Sims worked himself into -- and then out of -- a bases-loaded, no-outs jam in the top of the frame by striking out the side. That set the stage for a seven-run bottom half that included Tyler Stephenson's two-run double that snapped a 2-2 tie.
Sims received a mound visit from pitching coach Derek Johnson after going into a 2-0 count against Ke'Bryan Hayes with the bases full. He was able to bear down and strike out Hayes, and did likewise to the next two batters to escape.
"I think the whole team needed it. Personally, for me, that was big," Sims said. "This game is big on momentum. I thought that was a big turning point for us."
During the top of the eighth, Pirates catcher Roberto Pérez strained his hamstring running the bases. Backup catcher Andrew Knapp had been ejected in the sixth inning for arguing a call from the dugout. That meant infielder Josh VanMeter had to be the Pirates' emergency catcher and get behind the plate for the first time since he was 14. Pittsburgh reliever Wil Crowe struggled working with VanMeter and the Reds were able to capitalize on the odd situation.
Without notching a hit, the Reds loaded the bases against Crowe. Next was Stephenson, who fell into a 0-2 count but battled back to 3-2. He hit a tailing liner near the right-field line out of reach of Ben Gamel's diving attempt. The hit was good enough for a double, and gave Stephenson a four-RBI game.
“I felt like I got a little lucky with VanMeter being back there," Stephenson said. "Crowe actually made some good pitches at the bottom of the zone that I took. … I was just battling, trying to get a good pitch to hit and, obviously, in that situation, trying to get something in the air to get a chance to score the run. Sure enough, it just kept slicing away from Gamel and got by him.”
The seven-run rally was Cincinnati's biggest of the season. The club hadn't scored more than six runs in its previous 26 contests.
"We all can relate to where Lucas was in that situation. Bases loaded, nobody out, it’s similar to where we’ve been as a team," Reds manager David Bell said. "To bear down and do what’s easier said than done showed us the way right there. There’s no question that carried us into the next [half] inning. Really throughout that inning, great at-bats."
Bell and the Reds utilized a bullpen day to pitch through Game 2 and had to play catch-up the entire time. Opener Dauri Moreta and lefty Phillip Diehl combined to allow three homers in the top of the first inning to put Cincinnati down, 4-0. The offense, led by Drury, kept the team in the game.
Unlike Game 1, the Reds could not parlay a big inning despite putting the leadoff man on safely six times. Drury opened the bottom of the seventh with a bloop double and Tommy Pham walked to bring the tying run to the plate, but no runs crossed. Cincinnati was 2-for-13 with runners in scoring position in the nightcap.
"It’s very frustrating for all of us. I like our team," Drury said. "I think we can get hot and get on a run and win some games. Right now, it’s very frustrating. We'll keep coming to the park until it turns."