Reds Offense Continues to Struggle, Drop Series to Pittsburgh Pirates

The Cincinnati Reds fell to the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ballpark earlier this afternoon by a score of 8-3. With the loss, the Reds fell to 3-3 overall and 3-3 at home.

It was a rough go of it from the jump for Cincinnati, as Oneil Cruz took Andrew Abbott to right field for a three-run shot in the top half of the first inning. Cruz would finish the game 2 for 5 with 3 RBI's.

Reds Continue to Struggle Against Paul Skenes

Cincinnati Reds Paul Skenes Eugenio Suarez Great American Ballpark National League Pagan Terry Francona — Apr 1, 2026; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Paul Skenes (30) pitches against the Cincinnati Reds in the first inning at Great American Ball Park. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-Imagn Images | Katie Stratman-Imagn Images

The Reds have struggled with facing Pirates pitcher Paul Skenes, and continued to do so in Wednesday's day game. Skenes had tossed 31 and 1/3rd scoreless innings against the Reds until the bottom half of the fourth inning, when Nathaniel Lowe doubled to center that scored Elly De La Cruz to get the Reds on the board. Skenes would finish with five innings pitched, allowing just three hits and one earned run while striking out five.

Abbott settled in after allowing a three-run shot in the first inning, as he went six scoreless innings in succession after the miscue. Abbott only allowed three baserunners the rest of his outing, and his final line was 5 2/3 innings, three earned runs on five hits, while striking out five.

Conner Phillips came into the game in relief of Abbott and inherited two baserunners with two outs in the top half of the sixth. Phillips issued a walk to load the bases before issuing a bases-loaded walk to put the Pirates ahead 4-1.

Mason Montgomery was brought into the game in relief of Skenes, but only lasted 2/3rds of an inning before the Reds figured him out.

Eugenio Suarez Homers for Second Time This Season

In the bottom of the sixth, Eugenio Suarez stepped up to the plate with one on and one gone. Suarez got hold of a 1-1 curveball from Montgomery that he sent 410 feet over the wall in left field to bring the Reds within one.

Isaac Mattson was brought in to the game in relief of Montgomery in the bottom of the sixth and got Stephenson to fly out to deep center. Mattson pitched a scoreless seventh inning as well.

The Reds used the bullpen into the seventh, as Graham Ashcraft was brought into the game and pitched a scoreless inning while stranding a runner at second. Tony Santillan came into the game in the top half of the eighth and left with a scoreless inning.

Emilio Pagan Struggles in the top Half of the Ninth Inning

Nick Gonzalez stepped up to the plate in the top half of the ninth and singled to left field off of Emilio Pagan, which scored two runs. Bryan Reynolds stepped up in the next at bat and fired a no-doubter beyond the wall into right field to add two more insurance runs to make it an 8-3 ballgame. The Reds went down in order in the bottom half of the ninth to end the game with an 8-3 loss. The Pirates had nine hits and no errors while the Reds managed five hits and no errors.

The Reds will now have a day off to travel to Texas where they set up for a seven game road trip that will include three games at the rangers and a four game series in Miami against the Marlins.