Pushing and shoving ensued in the eighth after the Reds’ Phillips was hit by a pitch by Pittsburgh left-hander Tony Watson.
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Though no punches were thrown, the altercation was revived twice before the umpires could clear the field and resume the game. Manager Clint Hurdle went out for an explanation and West said that they had no choice but to eject Melancon because warnings were issued. Each of his last 3 starts includes 2 HBPs after only having 2 all season. He allowed two base runner, Ivan DeJesus Jr.in the third inning and Eugenio Suarez in the seventh inning to reach scoring position. “If I can keep it in the ballpark, I think the small dimensions help the outfielders”. His signing is showing it’s value daily, as he has stepped in for Mercer in a big way. “It was a very solid effort”.
Reds manager Bryan Price sent rookie Keyvius Sampson to the mound for his first career start on Sunday.
UP NEXT – Pirates: LH Jeff Locke has been charged with two earned runs or less in seven of his nine career starts against the Reds. “I just focused and tried to make a play”.
“I have no problem with guys going out to protect their teammates”.
Said McCutchen: “I was a bit surprised that they would want to retaliate”.
Padres 8, Marlins 3 • A.J. Ramos forced home the tiebreaking run with a bases-loaded, four-pitch walk in the 11th and Jedd Gyorko added a two-run single to lift visiting San Diego. “(The pitch) got away.
The Pirates and the Reds have been throwing at each other the past few seasons, and it finally came to a head this weekend.
Before a crowd of 39,596, Sampson (0-1) retired the first seven batters he faced before Sean Rodriguez doubled into the left field corner with one out in the third inning. One out later, Gregory Polanco walked, and both runners scored on Starling Marte’s double to left-center field, his first hit in his last eight at-bats.
Mets 2, Nationals 1 • New fan favorite Wilmer Flores hit a leadoff homer in the 12th to give host New York a victory in the opener of a pivotal series. It initially looked like a triple, but replays revealed that it had hit a metal bar above the yellow line, giving Walker a solo homer. But following a one-minute, 25-second crew chief review, it was determined that the ball struck a railing in the stands before caroming onto the field.
“We needed to win a game to get a split and get out of there”, said Hurdle.
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Votto’s ejection was his second of the season. NOTES: Pirates LHP J.A. Happ arrived in Cincinnati on Saturday and threw his first bullpen session since being acquired from the Mariners on Friday. All that followed on the heels of a bunch of HBPs earlier this series, including Joe Blanton hitting Marlon Byrd last night. It was the climax of a game-long spat that began when Royals starter Edinson Volquez hit Josh Donaldson on the left arm in the first inning. Cincinnati (46-54) won its third straight game after taking two of three at first-place St. Louis. Francisco Liriano takes the hill, and he’s 7-6 with a 2.92 ERA and 140 strikeouts this season.
