Pirates lose a third straight winnable game against Reds

Win: Aroldis Chapman (1-0)

Loss: Rob Scahill (0-1)

REDS SWEEP PIRATES

The Pittsburgh Pirates (0-3) were involved in three winnable games vs the Cincinnati Reds (3-0) and the Reds took all three, completing a three game sweep with a 3-2 win over the Pirates on Thursday afternoon.

The Reds off to their best start since 2011, had their second walk-off win in consecutive games.

Bullpen issues have plagued the Pirates to start the season and manager Clint Hurdle opted to go with the unproven Rob Scahill over Mark Melancon in the ninth with the game tied at 2-2 and Scahill ran into instant trouble.

Reds third baseman Todd Frazier led off the ninth with a double off Scahill and advanced to third on Devin Mesoraco’s groundout. The Pirates opted to walk Jay Bruce, putting runners at first and third and right fielder Gregory Polanco botched a Marlon Byrd liner to right for the game winning run as there was no play at the plate.

VOTTO GETS TO BURNETT IN SIXTH: A.J. Burnett was excellent through five innings but Joey Votto got to Burnett in the sixth taking a Burnett 1-2 pitch for a two-run homer to center field to tie the game at 2-2.

Votto had 5 hits, 4 RBI’s in three games.

Burnett went 5 1/3 innings, allowing 4 hits and 2 earned runs. Burnett struck out 7 and walked just 1.

ALVAREZ SHOWS OPPOSITE FIELD POWER: Pedro Alvarez had a RBI double to left center on Wednesday night and today hit his first home run of the season to left to put the Pirates up 2-0 in the sixth. His home run was number 2,500 at Great American Ball Park

Alvarez went 2-4 in the game.

UP NEXT: Jeff Locke takes the mound tomorrow night vs the Milwaukee Brewers for the start of a three game series.