A Night of Power Hitting in Cincinnati
The Cincinnati Reds secured a 6‑4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday night, turning a tightly contested matchup into a showcase of late‑inning power.
Cincinnati erupted for four runs in the second frame, capitalizing on a strong early swing that set the tone for the evening, highlighted by Konnor Griffin's leadoff homer.
The centerpiece came in the eighth when Noelvi Marte launched a two‑run homer that broke the deadlock, his blast echoing through Great American Ball Park and putting the Reds ahead.
Pitching was a mixed bag, with Paul Skenes delivering five solid innings that saw him surrender four runs while striking out seven, his ERA climbing from 2.86 to 3.10, while Reds starter Andrew Abbott matched the effort before being pulled after 5 1/3 frames.
Relief work added depth, as Caleb Ferguson closed out the ninth with a one‑hit save, his first since 2024 with the New York Yankees, while the bullpen navigated a late rally that featured solo homers from Marcell Ozuna and Esmerlyn Valdez.
The win was tempered by injury concerns, as Tony Santillan was placed on the 15‑day injured list with a strained left oblique, while the club looks ahead to a Saturday showdown against the Pirates' Jared Jones.