Boxscore

Bruce’s home run trot doesn’t look like the running of a man on fire, and yet. (AP Photo/Al Behrman)

The Pirates took the game and split the four game series last night by winning 5-3.

It was Homer Bailey leading the charge from the pitching mound, and he performed admirably. In 6.0 innings of work he allowed 2 runs on 6 hits and no walks. He struck out 8. It was Alfredo Simon who was the goat this time. He took over in the seventh inning and let two guys on before getting Jordy Mercer to bunt pop out. When he walked Andrew McCutchen, they brought in Tony Cingrani to replace him. Cingrani was the one who actually let the runners score, but his line is clean.

Shin-Soo Choo and Joey Votto each had 2-for-4 games, but with no one doing anything around them, it didn’t result in much. The team only left 5 on base yesterday. I wouldn’t have minded a whole lot more LOB if it had meant more runs.

Jay Bruce hit a solo shot in the fourth inning. It looks like Bruce is fixing to start one of his trademark hot streaks again. That’s 4 home runs in his last 5 games and 5 home runs in his last 7 games. Hopefully it lasts through the west coast trip.

I really wanted the Reds to win this one, but they didn’t. We’ve suffered through so many years of Cardinals domination, the last few with the Reds as the feisty upstart. Now it feels like the Reds are finally participating in their share of the domination, and here come the Pirates as the upstarts. I was really hoping for a “wait your turn” kind of smackdown win of the series yesterday.

The Reds will just have to smack down the west coast now. Tonight they take on the Arizona Diamondbacks (39-33). Wade Miley (LHP, 4-6, 4.64 ERA) will defend the snakes against Johnny Cueto (RHP, 4-0, 2.08 ERA). First pitch is at 9:40 p.m.