Miguel Andujar hit a three-run double in the seventh inning on Tuesday to give the Pittsburgh Pirates a 4-1 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds.
Facing reliever Buck Farmer (2-2) with the game tied 1-1, Oneil Cruz led off the Pittsburgh seventh with a base hit to right and stole second. Bryan Reynolds walked. After Rodolfo Castro struck out, Jack Suwinski also walked to load the bases.
Andujar, playing in his second game with the Pirates since they claimed him off waivers from the New York Yankees, then hit a bases-clearing double off the wall in left-center to give the Pirates a 4-1 lead.
Pittsburgh has taken the first two games of the teams’ final series of the year, which wraps up on Wednesday. The teams are playing in part to decide which squad will finish in last place in the National League Central.
The Pirates (58-97) have won two in a row and three of four.
Pittsburgh starter Mitch Keller gave up one run of five hits in five innings, with five strikeouts and three walks.
Wil Crowe (6-10) pitched two scoreless innings for the win, and David Bednar handled the ninth for his 18th save.
The Reds (60-95) have lost two in a row and five of six.
Cincinnati starter Hunter Greene allowed one unearned run and four hits in six innings, with 10 strikeouts and three walks.
Playing in his third game, Reds rookie center fielder Mike Siani picked up his first two career hits, both singles, but left in the eighth after he dove attempting to make a catch.
In the first, Cincinnati’s Jonathan India drew a one-out walk. Kyle Farmer singled to center, sending India to second. Jake Fraley grounded into a forceout before India came home from third on a Keller wild pitch for a 1-0 lead.
The Pirates tied it in the third. Ji Hwan Bae was hit by a pitch. Cruz reached on India’s fielding error at second, with Bae going to third. Reynolds grounded into a double play, but that was enough to get Bae home and make it 1-1.
–Field Level Media