The Cincinnati Reds snapped a three-game slide with a hard-fought 2-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on August 9, 2025, at PNC Park. Rookie right-hander Nick Martinez delivered seven strong innings, yielding four hits, one earned run, four strikeouts and two walks to earn his 10th win of the season. Behind him, relievers Tony Santillan and closer Emilio Pagán combined for two scoreless frames to secure Pagán’s 25th save.
Pittsburgh struck first in the bottom of the third when Tommy Pham lifted a sacrifice fly to center field, scoring Jared Triolo from third. Cincinnati answered immediately in the fourth as Noelvi Marte ripped his third double of the night into left, plating Spencer Steer to knot the game at 1–1. The Reds took the lead for good in the seventh when TJ Friedl delivered a sac fly to right, bringing home Marte from third for the decisive run. Marte finished 3-for-4 with two RBI, while Friedl chipped in with the game-winning RBI and a stolen base.
Defensively, Cincinnati was flawless, recording two double plays and committing no errors. The Reds stranded eight runners overall, while the Pirates offense left five on base. The Pirates managed just four hits on the night against Martinez and a slew of relief pitchers. After scoring an early run, a combination of tight Reds pitching and sound defense kept them off the board the rest of the way.
Sunday’s finale between these NL Central foes is scheduled for a 1:35 p.m. first pitch at PNC Park. Probable starters are right-hander Zack Littell (9-8, 3.46 ERA, 1.10 WHIP) for Cincinnati and right-hander Mike Burrows (1-4, 4.45 ERA, 1.28 WHIP) for Pittsburgh.
(photo courtesy MLB.com)