Spencer Horwitz hit an run-scoring double in the 11th inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat Cincinnati 4-3 on Wednesday night, preventing the Reds from gaining ground in the race for an NL wild card.
The Reds entered Wednesday’s action tied with Arizona, one game behind the New York Mets, in the battle for the third wild card. The Mets lost 10-3 to the Chicago Cubs, and the Diamondbacks faced the Los Angeles Dodgers later Wednesday.
The Pirates took the lead in the 11th when Bryan Reynolds scored his third run of the game on Horwitz’s double. In the bottom of the inning, the Reds loaded the bases before Yohan Ramirez got Noelvi Marte to ground into a force play.
Pirates starter Paul Skenes allowed four hits and struck out seven in six innings in his final scheduled start of the season. The 23-year-old right-hander, at 1.97, became the first qualified pitcher with an ERA under 2.00 since Justin Verlander in 2022, and at age 23 became the youngest with a sub-2.00 ERA since 20-year-old Dwight Gooden’s 1.53 in 1985. Skenes also finished with 0.95 WHIP and 216 strikeouts.
Pirates RHP Braxton Ashcraft (4-3, 2.62) and Reds LHP Nick Lodolo (8-8, 3.44) will start Thursday’s series finale.
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