The Pittsburgh Pirates’ continual inability to plate more than four runs in a game already had reached historic proportions ahead of first pitch Tuesday night against the Cincinnati Reds.
Their 24-game streak of scoring four or fewer runs dating to April 22 is the longest in franchise history.
Over that span, the Pirates have wasted several quality outings from their pitchers, which includes Bailey Falter, who started at PNC Park with an 0.54 ERA over three previous May appearances.
While the Pirates’ offensive woes continued, their bats did just enough and Falter turned in arguably his most dominant start of the season, delivering seven scoreless innings in a 1-0 win.
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.
Falter (3-3, 3.50 ERA) allowed four hits, walked none and struck out five, throwing 55 of his 79 pitches for strikes.
Manager Don Kelly pulled Falter after seven innings, and 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.
Falter had to navigate a leadoff triple by TJ Friedl in the top of the first inning, but he got three straight outs, including a strikeout of Elly De La Cruz.
Following clean innings in the second and third, Santiago 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 to strand Espinal at second.
Falter’s strong start was matched by the Reds’ Nick Martinez, who allowed only one hit, a single to Spencer Horwitz, through the first four innings.
In the bottom of the fifth, Horwitz led off with a single for the second time in the game, but he quickly was erased by a double-play ball off the bat of Canario.
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 Joey 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 Pirates couldn’t add an insurance run, as with runners on first and third, Bart, who slipped and fell leaving the batter’s box, hit into an inning-ending double play.
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.
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 into 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 ruled 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.