CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz had a three-run homer, his third in two games, Paul Skenes allowed one run in five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 8-3 on Wednesday to take the three-game series.
Bryan Reynolds had a two-run shot, and Nick Gonzales added a two-run double during the ninth inning.
Eugenio Suárez had a pinch-hit, two-run homer in the sixth inning for the Reds.
Cruz went 5 for 13 with three home runs and six RBIs in the series. The power-hitting outfielder has gone deep nine times in the 19 games he has played in Cincinnati.
Reds starter Andrew Abbott (0-1) retired the first two Pirates hitters before Bryan Reynolds singled to right and Marcell Ozuna drew a walk. Cruz then connected on a 2-1 curveball that was over the bottom part of the plate and drove it 407 feet over the wall in right field.
Skenes (1-1) returned to his All-Star form after giving up five runs in two-thirds of an inning last Thursday in the season opener against the New York Mets. The reigning NL Cy Young winner allowed three hits, walked two and struck out five.
The Reds now begin their first road trip of the season at Texas
Lodolo works rehab
Reds pitcher Nick Lodolo was expected to throw 60-65 pitches during a rehab assignment Thursday. The left-hander, who is on the injured list due to a blister on his left index finger, will start for Single-A Daytona against Jupiter in a Florida State League game. If Lodolo has a successful outing, he could join the Reds’ rotation during next week’s series at Miami.
Lodolo was 9-8 with a 3.33 ERA and 156 strikeouts last season.