CINCINNATI -- With the Pirates amid a four-game losing streak, they’d take a win any way they could. Even if that meant waiting through a one-hour and 46-minute rain delay in the sixth inning.
Pittsburgh played all nine and returned to the win column Saturday night with a 4-1 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park. On a day when the Pirates upgraded their pitching with the addition of Camilo Doval, the same staff dominated.
Pirates starter Braxton Ashcraft twirled five innings of one-run baseball before Carmen Mlodzinski extended the dominance with three scoreless innings after the rain delay. Gregory Soto closed the door in the ninth to get his 14th save.
While Ashcraft returned to the form that made him an All-Star after a few rough outings, it was Mlodzinski’s performance in relief, all after the delay, that stole the show. The starter turned reliever threw on two days' rest for the second consecutive outing, a key step in how Pittsburgh can utilize him as a bullpen weapon more often down the stretch.
“So far, so good,” Mlodzinski said. “Definitely credit to the staff for, in a sense, kind of easing me into it. They haven't thrown me on one day rest yet, haven't done a back-to-back yet, but the goal is to try to be as available as possible down the stretch here. I know there's definitely value in eating up some innings in leverage spots, but I think there's going to be some serious value in bouncing back quicker and being available more for the team.”
The rainy conditions helped Pittsburgh grab the first lead of the day early. Reds starter Andrew Abbott struggled to find a grip in the third inning, walking four batters in the frame plus allowing a single to give Pittsburgh a 2-0 advantage. Nick Gonzales put the ball in play to add another run in the inning on a fielder’s choice.
Meanwhile, Ashcraft had no trouble navigating Cincinnati’s lineup. He didn’t allow a hit until Nathaniel Lowe’s fourth-inning single, and Ashcraft walked just one batter his first time through the order while striking out four. The Reds cut into their deficit in the fifth with a solo shot to right field from Jose Trevino. Though Ashcraft responded with three quick outs to make it an official game as the rain moved in and out of the stadium.
Ashcraft said while he’s still working on his slider command, his curveball felt back to form.
“Feel like that was a really good step in the right direction from the last couple,” Ashcraft said. “Been a little bit frustrated with throwing the ball. Don't feel like I've played to the standard that I hold myself to.”
Tornado sirens rang across the river, but they didn’t slow down the Pirates from adding on. Henry Davis plated Marcell Ozuna on a single to center in the sixth, after Ozuna had doubled to lead off the inning and advanced to third on a flyout.
As Ashcraft went out to pitch the sixth and Mlodzinski warmed in the bullpen, the tarp was pulled onto the field and everyone retreated out of the pouring rain. After the delay, in came Mlodzinski, poised to keep Pittsburgh’s lead and bullpen intact. He struck out two after walking the leadoff batter, counting down the outs to victory. Mlodzinski allowed a double to Eugenio Suárez to lead off the seventh, but he retired six straight to extend the lead into the ninth.
Pirates manager Don Kelly described using Mlodzinski as a “little more aggressive” Saturday than his last appearance on Wednesday. Mlodzinski threw 30 pitches in three innings in his last outing, and bounced back with 47 over three innings against the Reds.
Pittsburgh has monitored Mlodzinski on a daily basis to make the transition, seeing how long it takes to recover between outings. While Mlodzinski admitted to a few mechanical fixes as of late, he also said he feels he’s been able to bounce back quicker as time has gone on.
“Coming off of it, [Mlodzinski] said he felt good, and we went for it and needed it. That was huge. That was a big moment for the team, and he stepped up,” Kelly said.
With Mlodzinski’s help, the Pirates bullpen didn’t falter this time, holding on for a fresh start to August.
“Even specifically speaking to our bullpen, I think we've actually done a pretty solid job as of the last week and last few weeks,” Mlodzinski said. “I think that's been a point of focus: Let's get our bullpen to where we believe it really can be, and I think we're starting to see a trend there for sure.”