CINCINNATI -- It was a scene that was all too familiar the last few seasons.
Trailing 3-1 in the top of the eighth against the Reds at Great American Ball Park Sunday, the Pirates were able to get a couple men on base after back-to-back leadoff singles by Rodolfo Castro and Oneil Cruz with the heart of the order due up. It was their best chance at pulling off a comeback and finishing the first leg of their road trip with a winning record.
But they couldn't come through. Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen flew out without plating a run before Carlos Santana bounced out to first to end the inning.