Pittsburgh Pirates vs Cincinnati Reds authentic live streaming links, review, online mlb radio commentry espn 360 gamecast May 18, 2011. The Cincinnati Reds are loving life these days at Great American Ball Park, where they've made a habit of coming from behind to win on their latest homestand.
There was nothing Cincinnati liked about its latest visit from Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds try to win an eighth straight on the shores of the Ohio River on Wednesday night against the much-improved Morton, who went the distance as the Pirates took three of four in Cincinnati last month.
7:10 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati has fallen behind by multiple runs in four of them, and had to dig deep to come back twice this week against the Cubs. But manager Dusty Baker's club did it both times, overcoming a 4-0 deficit to win 7-4 on Monday and taking advantage of four Chicago errors Tuesday to come from behind twice in a 7-5 victory in which all its runs were unearned.
"That was unbelievable," Baker said. "Just goes to show that if you stick around here, you'll see a lot of things -- a lot of knockdown, drag-out games. It's a challenge."
Facing floundering Pittsburgh (18-23), which is looking to avoid a seventh straight loss, should be an easy way to push its home winning streak to eight for the first time since Aug. 31-Sept. 17, 2009, a stretch that included a four-game sweep of the Pirates.
The Reds didn't have nearly as much luck when Pittsburgh visited last month, however. The Pirates won three of four, including a 6-1 victory April 15 when Morton (4-1, 3.13 ERA) cruised to his second career complete game and came within a two-out, ninth-inning Jay Bruce homer of a shutout.
Bruce was quick to note Morton looked nothing like the pitcher that started 1-9 with a 9.35 ERA last season before being banished to the minors.
"He's a completely different pitcher now," Bruce told the Pirates' official website of Morton, who was set to pitch Tuesday in Washington but had his second start in a row postponed by rain.
Morton should be anxious to get back out there. The right-hander has won consecutive outings for the first time in his career and doubled his 2010 win total thanks to a sinker that has him leading the majors in ground-ball percentage (77.4).
"When my mechanics are right, I can throw all my pitches for strikes," Morton said. "Not just the sinker, but the curveball and the changeup and everything."
He'll need to hope the Pirates can provide the kind of support that led to 24 runs in Cincinnati last month rather than continuing to resemble the lineup that's hitting .195 with runners in scoring position over the past six games.
They had no problem hitting Bronson Arroyo (3-3, 3.78) in Morton's start last month, tagging the right-hander for five runs and nine hits -- including homers by Neil Walker and Garrett Jones.
Arroyo, who gave up four runs over six innings in Friday's 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Cardinals, has been one of the few Reds who hasn't had much fun at home lately. He's 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA in three roads starts, but 1/3 with a 5.64 ERA in five outings in Cincinnati.
Though the Pirates solved Arroyo last month, Andrew McCutchen still hasn't. Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter is 0 for 12 in his career against Arroyo.
There was nothing Cincinnati liked about its latest visit from Charlie Morton and the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds try to win an eighth straight on the shores of the Ohio River on Wednesday night against the much-improved Morton, who went the distance as the Pirates took three of four in Cincinnati last month.
7:10 PM ET, May 18, 2011
Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
Preview: Pirates at RedsThe Reds (25-17) have won 11 of 13 since slipping a game below .500, and the first five victories of their current homestand have been particularly entertaining.
Current Conditions - Cincinnati
CLOUDY 56 °F
Wind: SSW 5
5-Day Forecast
GAME: Pittsburgh Pirates (18-23) at Cincinnati Reds (25-17)
DATE/TIME: Wednesday, May 18 - 7:10 PM EST
WHERE: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati, Ohio
LINE: N/A TOTAL: N/A
Cincinnati has fallen behind by multiple runs in four of them, and had to dig deep to come back twice this week against the Cubs. But manager Dusty Baker's club did it both times, overcoming a 4-0 deficit to win 7-4 on Monday and taking advantage of four Chicago errors Tuesday to come from behind twice in a 7-5 victory in which all its runs were unearned.
"That was unbelievable," Baker said. "Just goes to show that if you stick around here, you'll see a lot of things -- a lot of knockdown, drag-out games. It's a challenge."
Facing floundering Pittsburgh (18-23), which is looking to avoid a seventh straight loss, should be an easy way to push its home winning streak to eight for the first time since Aug. 31-Sept. 17, 2009, a stretch that included a four-game sweep of the Pirates.
The Reds didn't have nearly as much luck when Pittsburgh visited last month, however. The Pirates won three of four, including a 6-1 victory April 15 when Morton (4-1, 3.13 ERA) cruised to his second career complete game and came within a two-out, ninth-inning Jay Bruce homer of a shutout.
Bruce was quick to note Morton looked nothing like the pitcher that started 1-9 with a 9.35 ERA last season before being banished to the minors.
"He's a completely different pitcher now," Bruce told the Pirates' official website of Morton, who was set to pitch Tuesday in Washington but had his second start in a row postponed by rain.
Morton should be anxious to get back out there. The right-hander has won consecutive outings for the first time in his career and doubled his 2010 win total thanks to a sinker that has him leading the majors in ground-ball percentage (77.4).
"When my mechanics are right, I can throw all my pitches for strikes," Morton said. "Not just the sinker, but the curveball and the changeup and everything."
He'll need to hope the Pirates can provide the kind of support that led to 24 runs in Cincinnati last month rather than continuing to resemble the lineup that's hitting .195 with runners in scoring position over the past six games.
They had no problem hitting Bronson Arroyo (3-3, 3.78) in Morton's start last month, tagging the right-hander for five runs and nine hits -- including homers by Neil Walker and Garrett Jones.
Arroyo, who gave up four runs over six innings in Friday's 6-5, 10-inning victory over the Cardinals, has been one of the few Reds who hasn't had much fun at home lately. He's 2-0 with a 0.92 ERA in three roads starts, but 1/3 with a 5.64 ERA in five outings in Cincinnati.
Though the Pirates solved Arroyo last month, Andrew McCutchen still hasn't. Pittsburgh's leadoff hitter is 0 for 12 in his career against Arroyo.
