Reds' Second Inning Sparks, But Pirates Prevail in Cincinnati Showdown

The Cincinnati Reds faced off against the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park on September 23, 2025. The game concluded with the Pirates securing a victory over the Reds with a final score of 4-2. This result brought the Reds to an 80-77 record for the season, while the Pirates improved to 68-89.

First Inning

The opening inning saw both teams struggling to find their rhythm as neither managed to score. The Reds' pitcher Brady Singer kept things tight early on, preventing any hits from the Bucs.

Second Inning

The second inning was pivotal for both teams. The Big Red Machine managed to put two runs on the board thanks to Elly De La Cruz's powerful home run, which was one of only five hits by Cincinnati throughout the game. However, this lead was short-lived as Pittsburgh responded fiercely in their half of the inning with four runs from four hits, including a crucial home run that set them ahead.

Middle Innings

As play continued into innings three through six, both teams tightened up defensively. The Redlegs struggled offensively despite efforts from players like TJ Friedl and Spencer Steer who were unable to convert opportunities into runs due in part to strong pitching by Pittsburgh's bullpen.

Final Innings

Innings seven through nine saw no further scoring from either side as pitchers dominated proceedings. Graham Ashcraft and Connor Phillips provided solid relief appearances for Cincinnati but were unable to change what went wrong for Reds earlier in terms of offensive production.

Despite their best efforts and some standout moments such as De La Cruz's homerun heroics and solid fielding performances by Gavin Lux and Ke'Bryan Hayes (both maintaining perfect fielding percentages), it wasn't enough against a resilient Buccos lineup that capitalized when needed most.

Reds coach post-game reaction highlighted areas needing improvement before they face off again soon against these same opponents back at Great American Ball Park scheduled for September 24th at 6:40 PM EDT where fans can catch all action live via SportsNet PT broadcast network coverage!

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