PITTSBURGH — Antonio Bastardo has not had a great 2017. The Pirates’ veteran left-hander allowed four runs in two-thirds of an inning on Wednesday, allowing the Cincinnati Reds to run away to a 9-2 win and a series sweep.
Bastardo struck out pitcher Amir Garrett and got Billy Hamilton to fly out, but then gave up an infield hit to Brian Peraza and that’s when the trouble started. Joey Votto and Adam Duvall both walked on five pitches and then Eugenio Suarez worked a seven-pitch at-bat for a bases-clearing double.
Bastardo got the hook at that point, and Felipe Rivero allowed Suarez to score, leaving Bastardo with an ERA of 54.