CINCINNATI — The smoke from fireworks blasts floated over the Great American Ball Park outfield as right-hander Gerrit Cole strode slowly to the dugout. He had walked into the home half of the sixth inning with the Pirates’ only hit and spinning a one-hitter. He walked away four batters later, following a four-batter sequence which went walk, home run, walk, home run.
The Reds swept the series with a 5-2 win and rounded out the season series with 13 wins in 19 games against the Pirates. One day after being officially eliminated from postseason contention, the Pirates (68-82) clinched their second consecutive losing season.