Frazier homer burns Pirates in opener
CINCINNATI — Todd Frazier embraced the move up to the No. 3 spot in the Reds’ batting order, a sign they think he can drive in a lot of runs.
With one swing, he drove in three big ones in the season opener.
Frazier hit a three-run homer in the eighth inning, overcoming another stumble by the bullpen and rallying the Reds to a 5-2 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday.
Billy Hamilton and Joey Votto singled before Frazier connected on a down-the-middle fastball from Tony Watson (0-1), snapping a 2-2 tie.
“I was just looking for a sacrifice fly, but he threw the ball up,” Frazier said. “He got one out there a little bit. That was one of those no-doubters that come off the bat perfectly.
“That was huge. We talk about finishing games. I was the guy today. It will probably be somebody else next time.”
Until the eighth inning, Johnny Cueto was the guy.
Cueto, the Reds’ 20-game winner in the final year of his contract, opened his uncertain season with another dominating performance against the Pirates. He fanned 10 batters in seven innings before turning a 2-0 lead over to a bullpen that was a big problem last season.
“Everything was low,” Cueto said, with a trainer translating. “Everything went the way I wanted it to.”
Andrew McCutchen tied it with a two-run shot off newcomer Kevin Gregg. McCutchen has hit safely in his last 11 games at Great American Ball Park with five homers.
“He has a comfort zone here,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s hit some big homers late.”
Jumbo Diaz (1-0) got the final out in the eighth for his first win. Aroldis Chapman fanned two of the three batters he faced for the save.
Jay Bruce hit a solo homer, and Francisco Liriano balked home a run. Liriano allowed two hits in seven innings.
The Ohio River rivals have ended the last two seasons in Cincinnati with a lot at stake. The Pirates finished the 2013 regular season by sweeping a series and clinching home-field advantage for the wild-card game. Last year, Cueto beat the Pirates 4-1 for his 20th win, relegating Pittsburgh to another wild-card game.
It was the first time they opened a season together since 2003 in the inaugural game at Great American Ball Park. With the late homers, it had the feel of those September games.
Hamilton reached on a fielder’s choice in the third inning and took third base on Votto’s single, his first hit since July 4. Plate umpire John Hirschbeck called a balk on Liriano, making it 1-0.
