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 Votto's single with two outs in the bottom of the 11th inning drove
home shortstop Zack Cozart, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4
victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on a stormy evening at Great
American Ball Park.
The game, which was delayed 2 hours, 34 minutes by rain, ended at
1:46 a.m. EDT when Votto laced a single to right off right-hander
Radhames Liz (0-1), scoring Cozart easily from second base.
"I just wish I'd come through earlier in the game," said Votto, who
grounded out with the winning run at second base in the ninth. "It
was a good win for us. We battled. When you have the opportunity to
get the win you need to come through."
"An off-speed pitch he got off the end of the bat," said Pirates
manager Clint Hurdle.
Reliever J.J. Hoover (1-0) earned the victory for the Reds. It was
an encouraging performance for the right-hander, who lost 10 games
last season. He pitched two scoreless innings.
"He's coming off a rough year," said Reds manager Bryan Price.
"People won't let him forget that."
Both starting pitchers labored at times after the delay.
Pirates righty Gerrit Cole battled without his best stuff, allowing
three runs and five hits in five innings while walking two and
striking out six.
Reds right-hander Mike Leake was uncharacteristically wild, walking
six batters in five innings. Two of those were intentional, but it
was one shy of a career high. Leake gave up three runs and five hits
and just 56 of his 107 pitches were strikes.
"He wasn't his usual crisp self," said Price of Leake. "He was
around the plate, but not on it."
Reds left-hander Tony Cingrani, primarily a starter last season who
moved to the bullpen in spring training, entered the game in the
sixth inning with the bases loaded. He struck out right fielder
Gregory Polanco to end the threat.
Collectively, the Reds bullpen allowed one run in 5 1/3 innings.
"We ran a string of guys out there who were aggressive against a
nice lineup," said Price.
Pittsburgh went ahead in the seventh on first baseman Corey Hart's
pinch-hit single, which drove home center fielder Andrew McCutchen.
In the bottom half, Votto's single drove home center fielder Billy
Hamilton to tie the score for the fourth time. It was the first
baseman's first RBI since May 10, 2014.
Hamilton singled three times and stole three bases.
"It's a dangerous lineup for sure," said Cole. "It feels like
anytime Hamilton's on base, Votto's trying to move him over or drive
him in."
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Votto grounded out to strand the winning run at second base in the
ninth. He would come through two innings later.
It was the second straight homer for the Reds third baseman, who
went deep in his previous at-bat in the eighth inning Monday.
Pittsburgh got RBI doubles from Pedro Alvarez in the second and
catcher Francisco Cervelli in the fourth to tie the score 2-2.
The Reds regained the lead in the bottom half when second baseman
Brandon Phillips drove home Frazier with an RBI single.
Leake's control escaped him in the fifth when he issued back-to-back
walks.
Third baseman Josh Harrison, who walked to begin the inning, trotted
home on second baseman Neil Walker's sacrifice fly to tie the score
3-3.
After Wednesday night's four-plus hour affair, the Reds and Pirates
prepared to play again Thursday afternoon.
"It's too little time to put this one in the rear-view mirror," said
Votto.
NOTES: The Pirates reached agreement with 3B Josh Harrison on a
four-year contract reportedly worth more than $27 million. The deal
extends to 2020 with options. ... Reds RHP Homer Bailey threw 75
pitches in a simulated game on Monday at the club's spring training
camp in Goodyear, Ariz., keeping him on track to make a minor league
start on Sunday for either Triple-A Louisville or Double-A
Pensacola. Bailey had surgery in September to repair a torn tendon
in his right forearm and anticipates a late-April return. ... Reds
manager Bryan Price confirmed that RHP Raisel Iglesias will start
Sunday's game against the Cardinals, which will be his major league
debut. ... Head coach Urban Meyer and members of Ohio State's 2014
national championship team were honored in a pregame ceremony.
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