Cruz’s home run gives Pirates win over Reds

Pittsburgh Pirates Oneil Cruz smiles during the season opener against the Cincinnati Reds, Thursday, March 30, 2023 (AP Photo/Jeff Dean)

CINCINNATI (AP) — Oneil Cruz homered shortly after a pitch clock violation and then drove in the go-ahead run with an eighth-inning sacrifice fly as the Pittsburgh Pirates opened the season by beating Thursday’s No. 5 -4 to the Cincinnati Reds.

The meeting lasted three hours and two minutes, under the new rules that seek to speed up the development of the matches. There were 15 walks and 26 strikeouts combined, which affected the length of the game.

There were also two pitch clock violations, committed by Reds starter Hunter Greene in the third inning and by Pirates rival Mitch Keller in the fourth. Both innings ended with home runs.

Keller struck out eight opponents in 4 1/3 innings.

Reds third baseman Spencer Steer hit a solo shot in the fourth inning.

Greene committed the first foul on the clock, turning an 0-2 count to 1-2 against Cruz, leading off the third inning. The Dominican hit a home run that tied the score, in a 3-2 count.

For the Pirates, the Dominicans Cruz 2-1 with two runs scored and two RBIs, Carlos Santana 4-0.

For the Reds, Cuban José Barrero 4-0.

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