Mahle, Reds avoid sweep, edge Pirates 1-0

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Tyler Mahle cruised through six innings, Asdrúbal Cabrera hit a go-ahead, pinch-hit sacrifice fly in the seventh, and the Cincinnati Reds avoided a three-game sweep by edging the Pittsburgh Pirates 1-0 on Thursday.

Mahle (12-5) allowed five hits — all singles — and struck out four with a walk as the Reds salvaged the finale of a nine-game road trip that saw them lose a little bit of ground in the chase for the second NL wild-card spot.

Mychal Givens worked out of a two-on, one-out jam in the ninth by striking out Hoy Park on a full-count fastball for his eighth save as the Reds bounced back after a pair of one-run losses to the last-place Pirates.

Cabrera provided the game's only run while pinch-hitting for Mahle in the top of the seventh.

Tyler Stephenson led off with a double against Cody Ponce (0-4) and pinch-runner Delino DeShields moved to third on Shogo Akiyama's sacrifice bunt two batters later. Cabrera followed with a long drive toward the gap in left-center that let DeShields trot home.

The Reds finished their nine-game road swing through Chicago, St. Louis and Pittsburgh 3-6. Cincinnati is treading water in the standings with just over two weeks to go in the regular season. The Reds entered Thursday 1 1/2 games behind St. Louis in the race for a postseason berth.

Either Los Angeles or San Francisco — whoever doesn't win the NL West — will claim the first wild-card berth. Cincinnati is hoping to emerge from a four-team scramble with St. Louis, San Diego and Philadelphia for the other.

A pair of tight losses — including a 5-4 setback on Wednesday when Pittsburgh's Wilmer Difo scored from second on a fielder's choice in the bottom of the ninth — had the Reds reeling. Mahle steadied them with an efficient if not spectacular performance that...

source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Mahle-Reds-avoid-sweep-edge-Pirates-1-0-16465252.php