Johnny Cueto set a career-high on strikeouts, Joey Votto hit a two-run homer right when it was most important and the Cincinnati Reds managed to top the Pittsburgh Pirates at home, 4-0.
Cueto was simply magnificent in the third game of the series between the Pirates and the Reds. The right-hander struck out 12 batters and limited Pittsburgh to only three hits as Cincinnati shutout the Pirates 4-0 at the Great American Ball Park today afternoon.
The right-hander is looking like he’s getting into form after missing most of the 2013 season with several injuries in his throwing shoulder. Today Cueto went the distance and not only he struck out 12, he managed to leave the game with no walks to lower down his ERA to a minuscule 1.50 on 2014.
As expected, the Reds offense didn’t have to do much but the bats came through anyway. Billy Hamilton kicked things off with a run using nothing but his speed. The speedster walked, stole second and came around on two straight wild pitches by Francisco Liriano. Things were quiet until the seventh inning when Cueto singled and later Votto connected his fourth HR in six days.
Brayan Pena closed things out with an RBI double during the eighth.
It was a marvelous day for the Reds as they managed to complete their first series win of the season while also watching Cueto set a career-high for strikeouts. The Reds will now travel to Wrigley Field to take on the Chicago Cubs on Thursday while the Pirates will host the Milwaukee Brewers on a four-game series at PNC Park.