The Cincinnati Reds dropped their three-game home series against the Pittsburgh Pirates, falling 8-3 in consecutive games on March 31 and April 1 at Great American Ball Park. After winning the series opener 2-0 behind a dominant Chase Burns performance on March 30, the Reds' pitching unraveled in games two and three as Pittsburgh outscored Cincinnati 16-6 over the final two contests to claim the series.
Game One: Burns Blanks the Bucs
The series started on a high note. Chase Burns was electric in the March 30 opener, earning the win in a 2-0 shutout over Pittsburgh's Braxton Ashcraft. Burns maintained command throughout his outing, keeping the Pirates off the scoreboard while Cincinnati's offense provided just enough support with two runs.
It was a statement performance from one of the Reds' most promising young arms, and it looked like Cincinnati had all the momentum heading into the rest of the series.
Game Two: Williamson Gets Rocked in the Second
The wheels came off on March 31. Brandon Williamson, making his first start since 2024, was tagged for five runs in the second inning as Pittsburgh erupted early and never looked back. The Pirates sent eight men to the plate in the frame and battered Williamson with three home runs, turning a scoreless game into a 5-0 deficit before the third inning.
Pittsburgh starter Bubba Chandler outdueled Williamson, and reliever Yohan Ramírez earned the win. The Reds managed six hits on the day and scored their three runs in piecemeal fashion — one in the third and two in the eighth — long after the game had been decided. Pittsburgh tacked on an insurance run in the fourth and two more in the ninth for the 8-3 final.
Game Three: Skenes Overpowers Cincinnati
If game two was a collapse, game three was a gut punch. Paul Skenes took the mound for Pittsburgh on April 1 and reminded everyone why he is one of the most feared young arms in baseball. The Pirates jumped out to a 3-0 lead in the first inning against Andrew Abbott, immediately putting the Reds on their heels.
Cincinnati fought back, scoring one in the fourth and two in the sixth to close the gap to 4-3. For a brief moment, the comeback felt possible. But Pittsburgh slammed the door with four runs in the ninth inning to turn a competitive game into another 8-3 final — the exact same score as the night before.
Abbott took the loss, and the Reds managed just five hits against Skenes and the Pirates bullpen.
Identical Scores, Identical Problems
The back-to-back 8-3 losses tell a clear story: when the Reds' starting pitching falters, there is not enough behind it to keep games close. Williamson's rough outing was somewhat understandable given the long layoff since 2024, but Abbott's struggles in game three — particularly the three-run first inning — are harder to dismiss. The bullpen provided no relief in either loss, compounding the damage from the starters.
Offensively, the Reds produced just 11 hits across the two losses. Against a Pirates pitching staff that is not supposed to be among the league's elite, that output falls well short of acceptable.
What's Next
The Reds leave Great American Ball Park with a 3-3 record and head to Texas to open a series against the Rangers on April 3. Brady Singer will take the mound against MacKenzie Gore as Cincinnati looks to snap its two-game losing streak and find some road momentum. After the highs of the Boston series walkoff, the Pittsburgh losses brought the Reds back to earth. The question now is which version of this team shows up in Arlington.
