PITTSBURGH –– When Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star center fielder Bryan Reynolds stepped up to the plate in the fifth inning representing the game-tying run, Cincinnati Reds starting pitcher Tyler Mahle got the high-stakes moment that he was looking for on the mound.
Mahle entered Friday’s game against the Pirates with a 6.46 ERA. He called it a very frustrating start to the season. Mahle admitted that even though he hasn’t shown much emotion on the mound, he was in a pretty “dark place” as he searched for the right adjustment to get his first win in a month.
In the fifth inning, Mahle threw a perfectly-placed splitter and got Reynolds to hit a weak groundout to Reds shortstop Kyle Farmer.