Frazier gets Pirates started in a 9-6 victory over Reds
Former Mississippi State player Adam Frazier of the Pittsburgh Pirates hits a home run
CINCINNATI — Adam Frazier, a former Mississippi State player, 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 threeday layoff with a flourish, beating the Cincinnati Reds 9-6 Thursday night.
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.
Desclafani (1-1) didn’t allow a run in either of his first two starts this season. Frazier connected on the right-hander’s second pitch Thursday, and the Pirates surged to a 9-0 lead after two innings.
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 — giving up 29 runs in 32 1/3 innings.
The Pirates won for only the second time in their last 12 games.
Colin Moran also connected in the first inning for his sixth homer. Gregory Polanco led off the second with a home run, the fourth time in his career that Desclafani has given up three in a game, his career high.
The Pirates sent 12 batters to the plate for seven runs in the second inning, their biggest of the season. Josh Bell singled home a pair of runs, and Moran had an RBI single during the rally, which included Desclafani walking Polanco with the bases loaded.
Desclafani gave up a career-worst nine runs in two innings. His previous high was seven runs allowed, done twice against the Mets in 2014 and 2015.