Bryan Reynolds robbed of tying homer as Pirates fall to Reds for 90th loss of the season

Colin Beazley, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette on Sep 25, 2025

Published in Baseball

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CINCINNATI — The fifth-place Pirates spent most of their trip to Ohio punching away at the contending Reds’ playoff hopes. The Reds had the final blow.

Right fielder Noelvi Marte robbed Bryan Reynolds of a game-tying homer in the ninth inning, clinching a 2-1 win for the Reds against the Pirates on Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park. The catch bolstered Cincinnati’s faint playoff hopes and helped them avoid a sweep while ending the Pirates’ four-game winning streak and sending them to their 90th loss of the season.

It was fitting a fun series ended with an October-style moment.

“That was a great baseball series,” Pirates manager Don Kelly said, “well played on both sides — the defensive effort, the pitching effort, offensively, finding ways to come through. Bryan should've, could've tied that up, Marte pulls it back. ... That was a playoff atmosphere, and I thought we responded really, really well.”

The game’s ending distracted from another lackluster offensive day for the Pirates. After a one-hour, 22-minute rain delay, they managed just three hits and struck out 14 times, tied for their fourth most this season.

The Pirates were blanked by Reds lefty Nick Lodolo. Lodolo tied a career high with 12 strikeouts over 6 1/3 shutout innings, only leaving when the Reds removed him as a precaution due to a right groin injury. He allowed just two hits.

“Oh, man, he was really effective,” Kelly said. “Throwing his fastball, it's sneaky at 94-96 [mph], but it's got some hop to it and runs it up there at the top of the zone.”

Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft matched him for the first four innings in his final start of the season but faltered in the fifth. He allowed four consecutive hits to start the inning, and while a strong relay from center fielder Alexander Canario to second baseman Nick Yorke to catcher Joey Bart caught Ke’Bryan Hayes trying to score on TJ Friedl’s double, the following two hits gave Cincinnati the lead for good.

Friedl finished the game 2 for 3 with a double, a walk and a run. Second baseman Gavin Lux singled twice and had an RBI. Former Pirate Hayes snapped an 0-for-25 skid with a single in the third inning. He went 2 for 3 with two singles.

After Lodolo’s injury, three Reds relievers combined for the final eight outs. Right-hander Emilio Pagan pitched the ninth for his 30th save of the season.

It was over when ...

... Marte rose to rob Reynolds. If a few results go the Reds’ way, it was a moment that could bring October baseball to Cincinnati.

On the mound

Ashcraft finishes a successful rookie season with a 4-4 record and a 2.71 ERA. In 4 1/3 innings on Thursday, he allowed two earned runs on eight hits and a walk. He struck out five.

He was disappointed to end with a loss but proud he was able to complete a full season, especially given his injury history. Ashcraft threw 118 innings this year between Triple-A and the majors, 45 more than he threw in 2024. He hopes that sets a foundation going into 2026.

“Pitching in the next month next year, that's the goal,” Ashcraft said. “And I think that was the biggest win of this year — throwing up zeros and quality zeros and still maintaining stuff, maintaining velocity and giving our team a chance to win whenever I'm well above the previous year's innings numbers.”

At the plate

The Pirates narrowly avoided their 17th shutout loss of the year. Spencer Horwitz pinch hit to lead off the eighth inning and doubled to right-center field off right-hander Tony Santillan. He moved to third on Jack Suwinski’s pinch-hit groundout, then scored on Yorke’s groundout to third.

Thursday was the Pirates’ 60th one-run game this season, their most since playing in 60 in 2014. They are 25-35 in one-run games this year.

Most valuable player

Lodolo was dominant in a game the Reds needed to win. They are now just a half-game back of the Mets for the final wild-card spot.

Up next

The Pirates conclude their season with a three-game series in Atlanta against the Braves. Mitch Keller (6-15, 4.22 ERA) will make his final start of the year, facing one of his former Pirates teammates from earlier this season, left-hander Joey Wentz (5-6, 5.46).