Overview
- Pittsburgh seized control with a four-run second inning capped by Oneil Cruz's opposite-field two-run homer.
- Elly De La Cruz answered with a two-run shot for Cincinnati, giving him a team-high-tying 21 home runs.
- Rookie Hunter Barco earned the win in his MLB debut and Dennis Santana locked down his 15th save as the Reds mustered five hits and rolled into three straight inning-ending double plays.
- Cincinnati entered tied with the Mets for the final NL Wild Card berth and holds the head-to-head tiebreaker, with standings impact pending as the Mets and Diamondbacks play.
- Reds starter Brady Singer yielded all four runs in the second before settling in, while Pirates starter Johan Oviedo struck out seven over 4 2/3 innings.