Stokes' first career hits help Pirates finally solve Reds

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Troy Stokes Jr. drove in runs with each of his first two major league hits, JT Brubaker pitched six strong innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates finally beat the Cincinnati Reds, 7-2 on Tuesday night.

Two days after making his debut, Stokes hit an RBI single in the fourth inning. The right fielder also doubled in a run in the eighth.

Brubaker (3-2) allowed one run on five hits to win for the first time in four starts. He had four strikeouts and one walk.

The Pirates had lost eight straight games to the Reds, including all four this season by a combined score of 44-9. Pittsburgh has won three of its past 12 overall.

NL batting leader Jesse Winker homered and doubled twice for Cincinnati to raise his average to .374. His solo shot in the third inning off Brubaker tied the score at 1-all.

Jeff Hoffman (2-3) lasted four innings, giving up three runs and four hits while striking out four and walking two. Hoffman is winless in his last four starts and fell to 0-3 in three career starts against Pittsburgh.

The Pirates’ Adam Frazier had two hits, including a two-run homer in the eighth off Sean Doolittle. Frazier has a 12-game hitting streak, matching a career best.

The Pirates moved in front 3-1 with a two-run fourth inning. Kevin Newman knocked in a run with a triple to the left-center field wall and scored on Stokes’ single to left.

Phillip Evans hit a run-scoring double in the fifth.

Winker’s second double of the game in the eighth scored Nick Senzel, who also had three hits, and got the Reds within 4-2.

Stokes got the run back in the bottom of the inning by pulling a double down the left-field line.

GARRETT BAN BEGINS

Reds left-handed reliever Amir Garrett began serving a five-game suspension.

Garrett was...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Stokes-first-career-hits-help-Pirates-finally-16169952.php