The Cincinnati Reds are finding themselves in a familiar situation-another rain delay, marking the second consecutive day of weather interruptions. Saturday's delay preempted the game, while Sunday's pause came in the bottom of the 8th inning, leaving fans on the edge of their seats.
As the tarp covered the field at PNC Park, the Pirates' official account on X updated fans, promising more information soon. The latest from the grounds crew indicates that play is set to resume around 5:20 ET, with the Pirates holding a narrow 5-4 lead over the Reds.
The game kicked off with some fireworks in the second inning. Esmerlyn Valdez made his mark with a ground-rule double off Reds starter Brady Singer, bringing Nick Gonzalez home and putting the Pirates on the board. Then, former Red Tyler Callihan added to the excitement with his third homer of the season, pushing Pittsburgh to a 4-0 lead.
But the Reds weren't going quietly. In the fourth inning, after Elly De La Cruz reached on an error and Sal Stewart singled, JJ Bleday delivered a crucial single that brought both runners home, narrowing the gap to 4-2.
The momentum continued in the fifth when Noelvi Marte earned a walk, setting the stage for Tyler Stephenson's sizzling RBI double to left field. This clutch hit brought the Reds within striking distance, trailing by just one run. Edwin Arroyo followed up with an RBI single, tying the game at 4-4.
However, the Pirates quickly regained the lead in their half of the fifth. Ryan O'Hearn smashed his 12th home run of the season, marking the end of the road for Singer, who exited after allowing five runs on nine hits over 4 1/3 innings, with six strikeouts and no walks.
The seventh inning presented a golden opportunity for the Pirates to extend their lead. Zach McCambley struggled with control, loading the bases with walks. Reds manager Terry Francona called on Brock Burke, who pulled off a miraculous escape with a pop-up and a crucial inning-ending double play.
In the 8th inning, the Reds had another chance to level the score with runners on first and second and no outs. But the Pirates' defense held firm, as Nathaniel Lowe popped out, Spencer Steer flew out, and Noelvi Marte grounded out, ending the rally.
As the rain delay hit, Pierce Johnson was ready to take the mound for the Reds, leaving fans eagerly awaiting the game's resumption.
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Tyler Callihans three-run homer put the Pirates in control, and the Reds could not answer enough to change the feel of the afternoon. A rain delay only added to the frustration, as Pittsburgh came back out and kept widening the gap, leaving Cincinnati at 39-43 and still searching for a way to stop these winnable games from getting away. [Read more 🡒]