After three innings, the Pirates are off to a 4-0 lead against the Cincinnati Reds Monday afternoon, and it appears that Pedro Alvarez might be in the midst of another hot streak.
Neil Walker singled with one out in the bottom of the first inning and moved to second on an Andrew McCutchen groundout. Alvarez, who homered in Sunday’s game against the Chicago Cubs, brought Walker home with an opposite-field double that barely missed going over the wall in left. Alvarez then came home when Garrett Jones singled through the hole between first and second.
Rod Barajas kicked off the bottom of the next inning with a single. James McDonald replaced him at first after his bunt failed to advance Barajas to second. Jose Tabata walked, and then McDonald came home when Walker doubled down the first-base line, giving the Pirates a 3-0 lead.
In the third inning, Alvarez doubled yet again, and Barajas singled him home to put the Pirates up 4-0.
On the pitching side, McDonald has struck out three batters and walked one so far in three shutout innings.
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