Feldman hit hard in short outing

CINCINNATI — Scott Feldman’s brain says six innings is the minimum a starter should go, but his arm hasn’t been up to that task as much as he’d like this season.

Feldman, signed by the Reds in January as a veteran to help stabilize the Reds pitching staff, has gone six innings just twice in his six starts this season. He lasted just four on Tuesday, allowing seven runs and taking the loss in the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 12-3 drubbing of the Reds.

“I think every time as a starting pitcher you take the ball, six innings is pretty

much the least amount you want to throw,” Feldman said. “These four-inning, fiveinning starts that I’ve had a couple of now, they’re not ideal.” If not Feldman, who? Feldman entered Tuesday’s game with the lowest ERA (3.25) among the pitchers in the Reds rotation, but only rookie Amir Garrett has been able to average six innings per start. Feldman (1-3) is averaging just 5 innings, Bronson Arroyo 5 and Tim Adleman 5 .

That’s put undue pressure on the bullpen, with three pitchers combining to throw five innings on Tuesday.

Robert Stephenson was one out away from three scoreless innings, but was charged with four runs after three hits and a walk in the seventh.

Blake Wood allowed both of his inherited runners to score, including walking in a run by walking Pirates starter Tyler Glasnow (1-1) with the bases loaded. Wood also allowed runners to score on a wild pitch and a passed ball.

Even though the scoreboard showed a blowout, the Reds were very close to winning the game, especially after Joey Votto gave them a 3-0 lead in the first on his ninth homer of the season.

Of the Pirates’ 12 runs, 10 came with two outs. There were two liners off of the gloves of infielders that could have been pivotal outs.