CINCINNATI ? The Pirates fell behind early and never recovered in a 2-0 loss to the Cincinnati Reds Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The Pirates' bats were stifled by Reds pitcher Aaron Harang, who tossed a complete game. He allowed three hits, no walks and struck out nine batters ? five of them looking. Ian Snell's second outing of the season was plagued by a two-run first inning. Reds cleanup hitter Brandon Phillips sent a 2-2 pitch over the left field fence to give Cincinnati a 2-0 lead.
Snell escaped two later jams ? one in the third and another in the fifth ? to keep the Pirates within two runs. He didn't get any run support as the Pirates tabbed just two hits through six innings and finished with three on the afternoon.
Snell's day ended after he allowed two runs on five hits through six innings. He also walked three batters.
The bullpen held the Reds scoreless for the remaining three innings, but the Pirates could not muster any offense.
The highlight of the Pirates' afternoon came in the ninth inning when they turned a 6-4-3 triple play. It was the first triple play turned by the Pirates since 1993.
