Austin Hays and TJ Friedl each had three hits to back up a strong start from Nick Lodolo and lead the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-1 victory over the host Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.

The Reds matched a season-high five-game winning streak and improved to 4-0 against the Pirates this season. Pittsburgh dropped its fourth in a row and has lost 17 of its last 21 games.

Lodolo (4-4) pitched six innings and held the Pirates scoreless for his final five frames, allowing one run on four hits while issuing one walk and striking out seven.

The Pirates saw their offensive woes continue, as they have been held to four runs or fewer for 24 consecutive games.

Pittsburgh wasted a quality start from Mitch Keller (1-6), who went six innings and allowed two runs (one earned) on six hits and one walk while striking out five.

A costly throwing error by shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa contributed to Cincinnati taking the lead against Keller in the sixth inning. Hays, who drove in two runs, singled with two outs and reached second on the errant throw. Gavin Lux, who finished with two hits, followed with a double to score Hays and put the Reds ahead 2-1.

Hays put Cincinnati ahead in the top of the first when he roped a double to the wall in left to score the speedy Elly De La Cruz, who reached on a two-out walk.

Pittsburgh tied the game at 1-1 in the bottom of the first when Bryan Reynolds singled with two outs and Joey Bart doubled off the center field wall.

De La Cruz, who had two hits, delivered an insurance run in the eighth with a double off Pirates reliever David Bednar that scored Friedl. He then scored on a Hays single.

Will Benson, who was named the National League’s Player of the Week on Monday, hit a double in the ninth — his lone hit — and scored on a sacrifice fly by Matt McLain as the Reds pulled away with a three-run rally.

–Field Level Media