Pirates guaranteed 28th losing season in last 34 years, lose to Reds
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Cincinnati Reds' Elly De La Cruz, left, safely steals second base as Pittsburgh Pirates second baseman Nick Gonzales, right, takes a throw during the fourth inning of a baseball, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Cincinnati Reds' Jonathan India (6) hits a home run as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart (14) and home plate umpire Jordan Baker look on in the fourth inning of a baseball, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Cincinnati Reds' TJ Friedl, front left, hits an RBI single as Pittsburgh Pirates catcher Joey Bart, right, looks on during the fourth inning of a baseball game, Friday, Sept. 20, 2024, in Cincinnati. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)
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Pittsburgh Pirates manager Derek Shelton, center, hands the ball to pitcher Joey Wentz (34) during a pitching change in the fourth inning of Friday’s baseball game against the Cincinnati Reds in Cincinnati. Associated Press
CINCINNATI — Elly De La Cruz joined Vince Coleman and Rickey Henderson to become the third player to steal 100 bases in his first two seasons since the modern rule was adopted in 1898, and the Cincinnati Reds beat Pittsburgh 8-3 Friday night to assure the Pirates their sixth straight losing season and 28th in 34 years.
Tyler Stephenson tied his career high with five RBIs and Nick Martinez (10-6) won his fourth straight start, allowing two hits in six scoreless innings. Martinez struck out nine, his most since June 11, 2022, and walked none.
De La Cruz swiped second base in the fifth inning and scored on Stephenson’s single for a 7-0 lead, his 65th stolen base this season. The 22-year-old is hitting .260 with 24 homers and 70 RBIs this year after batting .235 with 13 homers, RBIs and 35 steals in 98 games as a rookie.
He became the first player with 30 homers and 100 steals in his first two seasons.
Last-place Pittsburgh (72-82) has lost six of eight.
Stephenson hit a solo homer in the first off Mitch Keller (11-11), a three-run double in a four-run third and a run-scoring single in a three-run fourth as Cincinnati built a 7-0 lead. He has 19 homers and a career-high 65 RBIs.
Jonathan India hit his 15th homer in the fourth.
Keller tied a season high by giving up eight runs along with seven hits and five walks in 3 1/3 innings. He lost his fourth straight decision.
Oneil Cruz homered off Brent Suter leading off the seventh and joined Barry Bonds and Andrew McCutchen as the only Pirates 25 or younger to have 20-homer, 20-steal seasons.
Isaac Mattson, a 29-year-old right-hander, retired six straight batters in the seventh and eighth innings of his Pirates debut, his first big league appearance since he pitched four games for Baltimore in 2021.
Pirates RHP Jared Jones (6-7, 3.85) starts Saturday against Cincinnati RHP Rhett Lawder (1-2, 1.74).
