Bailey Falter delivers gem as Pirates offense does just enough to top Reds

One run and six hits have hardly constituted the necessary offensive ingredients of late for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who are riding the longest streak of consecutive games with four or fewer runs scored in franchise history.

While that stretch reached 25 straight games Tuesday at PNC Park, Bailey Falter was dominant and the offense did just enough to lift the Pirates to a 1-0 shutout over the Cincinnati Reds.

Falter (3-3, 3.50 ERA) allowed four hits, walked none and struck out five, throwing 55 of his 79 pitches for strikes.

An RBI single by Bryan Reynolds in the sixth was the difference for the Pirates (16-33), who snapped a four-game losing streak in front of an announced crowd of 10,071.

“He was electric,” manager Don Kelly said of Falter. “His fastball was exploding through the zone, command, both sides of the plate pitching in and just the way that (catcher) Joey (Bart) was able to mix in the offspeed there and go back to the fastball, Bailey just stuck it right where Joey wanted it.”

Kelly pulled Falter after seven innings, but the decision paid off, as Dennis Santana pitched a scoreless eighth and David Bednar shut the door in the ninth, earning his fourth save and first since April 30.

Bednar preserved the one-run lead, battling the Reds’ top three hitters in TJ Friedl, Santiago Espinal and Elly De La Cruz.

“It was great to get the final three outs and secure that win,” Bednar said. “I think those are the spots you want to be in. You want to beat those guys and take home a win.”

Falter had to navigate a leadoff triple by Friedl in the top of the first inning, but he got three straight outs, including a strikeout of De La Cruz.

Espinal began the fourth with a leadoff double to left field, which Alexander Canario failed to make a sliding, backhand catch on.

But Falter again pitched his way out of trouble, striking out Spencer Steer for the final out.

“Just execution of pitches, honestly,” Falter said of escaping a few jams. “Especially after the leadoff triple, I was like, ‘If this guy scores, that’s the only one they’re gonna get.’ Just try to minimize damage as much as possible.”

Falter improved to 2-0 with a 0.38 ERA over 23 2/3 innings in May.

Falter’s strong start was matched by the Reds’ Nick Martinez (2-5, 3.43 ERA), who allowed only one hit, a single to Spencer Horwitz, through the first four innings.

Falter kept things going in the sixth, averting any damage after a leadoff single by former Pirate Connor Joe.

After Friedl flew out, the Pirates got out of the inning with a double play, as Espinal struck out before Bart gunned down Joe attempting to steal second.

The sixth inning saw the Pirates get two men aboard for the first time in the game, as Oneil Cruz walked and Andrew McCutchen was hit by a pitch.

That brought Reynolds to the plate, and on the third pitch he saw from Martinez, he ripped an RBI single into right field to score Cruz for a 1-0 lead.

The Reds got a man on in the seventh when Steer singled with two outs, but Falter shut down the threat by getting Tyler Stephenson to line out.

Despite his night ending with a low pitch count, Falter backed his manager for turning the game over to the bullpen in the eighth.

“I always want the ball, you know? But (Kelly) saw some things he thought would be best for the team,” Falter said. “And if that’s good with him, that’s good with me. It’s all about the team. It’s not about me.”

In the bottom of the seventh, the Pirates had a chance to add some insurance runs after loading the bases for Cruz, but he grounded out to second base, ending the inning.

Ke’Bryan Hayes was hit by a pitch from Reds reliever Luis Mey with two outs, and Adam Frazier doubled to left field.

Initially, Hayes was gunned down at home plate by De La Cruz, the cutoff man. However, the Pirates challenged the play for fan interference.

After review, a fan was confirmed to have touched the ball as it was heading into the left-field stands, resulting in a book-rule double.

Jared Triolo then walked to load the bases, but Cruz was unable to capitalize.

Horwitz finished 2 for 3, posting his first multi-hit game since making his injury-delayed Pirates debut May 17.