CINCINNATI — The magic that marked the Pirates’ opening day victory against the Reds did not return. There were no dashes around the basepaths, no crucial, late-inning plays. In fact, the flicker of offense that existed at the beginning of this one didn’t last long at all.
Pittsburgh had just one hit — and one baserunner — after the third inning and went down quietly, 6-2, to the Reds at Great American Ball Park on Saturday, evening their season-opening series at one win apiece.
After grinding out several at-bats and forcing the opposing starter, Nick Lodolo, to throw 35 pitches in the opening frame, the Pirates became far too cooperative as the game wore on. Fourteen out of the final 15 Pirates failed to hit the ball out of the infield.
