Desclafani can’t beat Pirates again

CINCINNATI (AP) -- Adam Frazier hit the first of three homers off Anthony DeSclafani, who hasn’t beaten Pittsburgh in his last seven tries, and the Pirates returned from a three-day layoff with a flourish, beating the Cincinnati Reds 9-6. Pittsburgh’s three-game series in St. Louis was called off because of the Cardinals’ COVID-19 outbreak.

The Pirates showed no rust against a pitcher they’ve dominated. Frazier connected on DeSclafani’s second pitch, and the rout was on. DeSclafani hasn’t beaten the Pirates since June 17, 2018, at PNC Park. Since then, he’s 0-5 in seven starts -- all Pirates wins.

Friday:

Pittsburgh Pirates (4-13, fifth in the NL Central) vs. Cincinnati Reds (8-11, second in the NL Central)

Cincinnati; Friday, 7:10 p.m. EDT

PITCHING PROBABLES: Pirates: Chad Kuhl (0-0, 2.00 ERA, 1.00 WHIP, 12 strikeouts) Reds: Sonny Gray (3-1, 2.25 ERA, .92 WHIP, 35 strikeouts)

LINE: Reds favored by 1 1/2 runs; over/under is 8 1/2 runs

BOTTOM LINE: The Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday.

The Reds went 33-43 in division play in 2019. Cincinnati pitchers had an ERA of 4.18 last season while striking out 9.6 hitters per game.

The Pirates went 29-47 in division play in 2019. Pittsburgh hit 163 total home runs with 516 total extra base hits last year.

INJURIES: Reds: Pedro Strop: (groin), Robert Stephenson: (back), Wade Miley: (undisclosed), Matt Bowman: (right elbow), Mike Moustakas: (left quad).

Pirates: Jameson Taillon: (elbow), Joe Musgrove: (triceps), Mitch Keller: (left side), Clay Holmes: (right forearm), Michael Feliz: (right forearm), Kyle Crick: (right shoulder/lat), Nick Burdi: (right elbow), Chris Archer: (neck), Kevin Kramer: (hip), Phillip Evans: (broken jaw/concussion), Luke Maile: (finger).

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The Associated Press created this story using technology provided by Data Skrive and data from Sportradar.

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