Reds vs Pirates Recap: Skenes shines as Pirates top Reds 1-0

The Cincinnati Reds visited Pittsburgh on Sunday, May 3, taking on the Pirates at their home stadium. Both teams came into the game looking to bounce back, but this matchup turned into a pitcher's duel. The Reds brought Chase Burns to the mound as their starting pitcher, while Pittsburgh countered with Braxton Ashcraft. Coming into Sunday, the Pirates were riding high after a dominant 17-7 victory over Cincinnati the day before. However, the Reds had their young, exciting offense ready to spark a comeback. Meanwhile, Pittsburgh's rotation featured superstar Paul Skenes, though he wasn't pitching today. The pregame storylines suggested this would be a tight, competitive contest. Both teams had injury concerns affecting their rosters. When the first pitch flew, neither team expected the defensive struggle that would unfold.

As the game progressed through the early innings, both pitchers were working effectively on the mound. Chase Burns and Braxton Ashcraft kept the opposing lineups quiet, displaying excellent control and precision. Inning after inning, neither team could break through defensively. The Reds' young offense, known for its exciting potential, struggled to find opportunities against Pittsburgh's arms. Although Cincinnati's roster had injury concerns with multiple players on the injured list, they stayed focused at the plate. The Pirates' bullpen remained ready in case their starter tired. Through seven complete innings, the scoreboard showed all zeros for both teams. This scoreless deadlock showcased how dominant pitching could completely change baseball games. Fans in the stadium watched intently, knowing that one play could shift everything. Both benches understood that the next few innings would determine this low-scoring contest's outcome.

In the bottom of the eighth inning, Pittsburgh finally broke the scoreless tie. With two outs on the board, Cruz stepped up and singled to center field with a powerful swing. His hit traveled 261 feet with an exit velocity of 104 miles per hour, showing impressive bat speed. Griffin scored easily from second base on the clutch single, giving the Pirates a 1-0 lead. Mangum advanced to second base as the crowd erupted. The Pirates added another run in the ninth inning, extending their advantage to 2-0 and eventually 5-1 by game's end. When the final out was recorded, Pittsburgh celebrated a hard-fought defensive victory. Although the Reds had managed only four hits throughout the contest, they couldn't mount a comeback against solid Pirates pitching. This low-scoring affair proved that dominant pitching and timely hitting could win games when offense struggled overall.