Pirates end disappointing Cincinnati trip with a lopsided defeat

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Aug 2, 2026

Published in Baseball

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CINCINNATI — The Pittsburgh Pirates ended a gloomy trip to Cincinnati with a dud.

The Cincinnati Reds, who project as sellers at Monday’s trade deadline, hammered the Pirates, 10-2, on a rainy Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The Reds took three games in the four-game series.

The Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak on Saturday, but dropped under .500 again (56-57) with the loss. They have lost 8 of 11.

Don Kelly was ejected in the top of the fourth inning during a 25-minute, field maintenance delay. Umpires stopped the game mid at-bat to address puddles that had formed on the field, then the grounds crew spent nearly a half hour applying Quick Dry to the infield — as rain continued to fall steadily.

Mitch Keller had had two positive starts coming out of the trade deadline, but struggled badly in his third. He allowed a second-deck homer to Sal Stewart, the second hitter of the game, and was charged with three runs within the first five batters.

He struggled with command and was hit hard while he was in the zone. He allowed a home run to his old teammate Ke’Bryan Hayes in the second, then was pulled after loading the bases on a double and two walks in the third. Noah Murdock allowed all three runs to score, all charged to Keller.

While the Reds hammered Keller, Cincinnati starter Chase Burns mowed down the Pirates. Burns (13-1) faced the minimum through three innings and allowed one run on two hits, two walks and a hit batter in six innings. He struck out nine.

Camilo Doval made his Pirates debut in the eighth inning and allowed a Tyler Stephenson solo home run, but no other damage.

It was over when …

Keller allowed the homer to Hayes, Hayes’ fourth of the year. The former Pirate is hitting .145 with a .452 OPS this season.

On the mound

Keller was charged with seven runs, all earned, on six hits and four walks in two-plus innings. He struck out two and allowed two homers.

He threw 69 pitches and got six outs. Just 34 of his 69 pitches were strikes.

Murdock pitched an inning and would have thrown more if not for the delay. Ron Marinaccio and Yohan Ramirez both pitched two frames before Doval had the eighth.

At the plate

It was another lackluster day for the Pirate offense, as they managed two runs on four hits. Bryan Reynolds scored Jake Mangum with an RBI single off Burns in the fourth, then Jacob Gonzalez doubled and scored on a Jared Triolo single in the eighth.

Gonzalez went 2 for 3. Mangum reached twice on a walk and a hit by pitch.

Bucs bites

— On his weekly radio show, Pirates general manager Ben Cherington said Oneil Cruz’s bones are healthy and he could start a rehab assignment this week.

— Left-hander Evan Sisk was with the Pirates in Cincinnati after a scoreless rehab appearance for Triple-A Indianapolis on Saturday. He is not yet active. Cherington said the Pirates would likely wait until after Monday’s trade deadline to activate him, although Sunday’s heavy bullpen usage could have changed the calculus.

— Kelly now leads Major League Baseball with five ejections.

Up next

The Pirates head to Milwaukee for the trade deadline and a four-game set against the Brewers, starting Monday at 7:40 p.m. ET. The trade deadline is at 6 p.m. Monday’s game will feature right-hander Bubba Chandler (3-8, 4.56 ERA) against right-hander Brandon Sproat (3-6, 5.05).

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