FeaturesPlayoffsHistory/Hall of FameGame RecapsDerek Dietrich’s tw

He did hurt Chris Archer’s feelings http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , though."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections Farmers onlyo home runs not enough as Reds get swept in Pittsburgh, 7-5New,81commentsHe did hurt Chris Archer’s feelings, though.EDTShareTweetShareShareDerek Dietrich’s two home runs not enough as Reds get swept in Pittsburgh, 7-5Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY SportsThe Joe Nuxhall Memorial Honorary Star of the GameThe Reds offense as a whole has struggled mightily early in this 2019 season, but it hasn’t been because of one of the newest Red, Derek Dietrich. He leads the team in, well, nearly every offensive category at this point. You’ll remember it was his late game heroics versus these Pirates on Opening Day that gave the Reds the lead for good.Well, there must be something he really likes about batting against these Pirates, because he went ahead and hit two more dongs today. The first dinger (and the admiration of it), made Chris Archer very upset and sparked a 4th inning skirmish the next time Dietrich came to the plate.So Dietrich went ahead and hit another four hundred foot bomb in the 8th.The scuffle didn’t motivate the Reds much at all in this one, unfortunately (they seemed to go in the other direction directly afterward, actually), but Dietrich has been a very solid get by the Reds. Remember, Cicinnati picked him up on a minor league deal after he was released by the Marlins earlier this offseason. He’s also got one more year of arbitration left, too, so he’ll be a Red for a while should they want him.Honorable mention to Scott Schebler, who shook off a little bit of the slump today with a homer and Robert Stephenson for his 1.1 of perfect relief pitching. Key PlaysOn the first pitch of the day for the Pirates, Adam Frazier swatted a massive dong to right center field. Pirates up 1-0 after 1.After an Eugenio Suarez walk to open the 2nd inning, Derek Dietrich mashed and even bigger tater to right center field. Well, more like right center river, because that’s where it landed. Jose Peraza reached on an error, but the Reds would be retired in order afterward. Reds grab the lead, 2-1.Jung Ho Kang struck out to begin the Pirates part of the 2nd before a Melky Cabrera single. Jason Martin flew out to center before Erik Gonzalez roped a double down to right field that scored Cabrera, though Gonzalez was gunned down by Puig trying to stretch it into a triple. 2 all after 2.Scott Schebler put another into the seats in right field for the Reds Jimmy Wynn Jersey , which gave the Reds another lead. 3-2.The top of the 4th was very eventful, as Archer threw at Dietrich to begin the inning after taking offense to the way Dietrich watched his home run earlier. The benches cleared, things happened. Reds and Pirates were ejected. More on that in a moment.Josh Bell hit the ball a country mile in the bottom of the 4th, OVER the batter’s eye in center field, with one out in the inning. Kang lined out for the second out before a Cabrera double. Martin then doubled to right, which was bobbled a bit by Winker (who moved to right after Yasiel Puig was ejected in the aforementioned fight), which allowed Cabrera to score. Gonzalez was intentionally walked before Archer struck out. Pittsburgh retakes the lead, 4-3.DeSclafani hit Frazier with a pitch to open the bottom of the 5th, then allowed a single to Francisco Cervelli after getting Starling Marte to fly out. That’d be the day for Disco, who really didn’t seem to be helped by the fracas in the 4th. David Hernandez came into relieve and allowed a pile of runs. By the time it was over, the Pirates extended their lead to 7-3.Matt Kemp (also in because of the ejections) led off the 8th with a bloop single, and he’d come all the way around to score the easy way by Derek Dietrich’s 2-out, second 2-run dinger of the day. He didn’t admire it quite as long this time, as to not hurt the Pirates fee-fees any more. Pirates still up, 7-5.That would be all the rallying the Reds would muster, however. Pirates win, 7-5.Tony GraphaninoSource: FanGraphsOther NotesThings really popped off in the top of the 4th inning. Apparently, Chris Archer didn’t much like Derek Dietrich’s, um, admiration of the home run he hit the first time up. So, Archer threw the ball at him. Instead of immediately tossing Archer like he should have, the home plate umpire issued a warning to both benches, which really got under the skin of Reds manager David Bell, who came flying out of the dugout to argue the decision. This led to both benches coming out onto the field for a chat. Things got pretty heated, but there wasn’t necessarily a lot of action, other than that someone said something to Yasiel Puig that really pissed him off.After it was all said and done http://www.astrosfanproshop.com/authentic-justin-verlander-jersey , David Bell, Yasiel Puig, and Amir Garrett were tossed from the Reds, while Felipe Vazquez and Keone Kela were ejected for the Pirates.The baseballs were being absolutely mashed in this game. Josh Bell’s homer over the batter’s eye was 474 feet. Dietrich’s blast into the river was 436 feet. His second home run only wen’t 418. Some really impressive feats of strength, if you ask me.While all the fireworks were going off during the game, the Reds announced they have traded a player or cash to the Diamondbacks for 1B/OF Rob Refsnyder. So, he’s the newest addition to the Louisville Bats. The Reds are off tomorrow, but will ramp up a three gamer on Tuesday with the Maimi Marlins. Luis Castillo will make his third start of the season, and this time against a former organization of his. Jose Urena is scheduled to go for the Marlins. First pitch on Tuesday is scheduled for 6:40 PM EDT.Tunes. SURPRISE, Ariz. (AP) — This is the new normal in baseball — pitching not just effectively after Tommy John surgery but even gaining velocity.Returning to form following labrum surgery is less likely. Just ask Mike Minor.“I started throwing, it hurt. I shut it down. I start throwing again, it hurt again,” the 6-foot-4 Rangers left-hander said of his two-year rehabilitation.All the rehab has been well worth it. He will open the season at home for Texas on March 28 against the Chicago Cubs.“It’s a cool thing, especially when I talk to my family and friends, talk about where I was a couple years ago,” he said. “From not pitching two years in a row and coming back, and having to go in the bullpen and last year trying to re-establish myself as a starter. And having a lot of people belief that I couldn’t do it, a lot of doubters.”A former Team USA and Vanderbilt star, Minor was selected in the first round (seventh overall) of the 2009 draft by the Atlanta Braves. He made his MLB debut in 2010 and became a reliable starter in 2012 and 2013.The torn labrum limited him in 2014 and the operation cost him the 2015 and 2016 seasons. Kansas City used him solely out of the bullpen in 2017. The Rangers acquired him as a free agent in 2018 and used him cautiously. He pitched 157 innings in 28 starts with a 4.18 ERA.“His expectations coming into this year were to kind of set the tone for the rest of the staff,” Rangers manager Chris Woodward said. “And when I told him he was the opening day guy, he was obviously excited. To be given the opportunity to be the ace, he’s not taking that lightly. He’s taken on that responsibility of being the No. 1 guy.”A quick learner who majored in sociology at Vanderbilt, Minor studies opposing hitters, looking to attack their weaknesses with his four-seam fastball, curveball, slider Charlie Morton Jersey , circle changeup.“He’s done it from Day One of spring training,” Woodward said. “That’s why I made him the opening day starter because I see that commitment to bringing that attitude and that idea to the rest of the staff.”Minor, 31, works closely with catcher Isiah Kiner-Falefa, who turns 24 on Saturday.“Being a young catcher, he makes my job easier,” Kiner-Falefa said. “I am just trying to get him to pitch his game. He’ll let me know how to get on the same page with him.”On a team that finished last in the AL West at 67-95, Minor is asserting himself as a leader.“He brings everything you want in an opening day starter,” Kiner-Falefa said. “He brings fire, he attacks hitters. He’s not afraid. We feel his presence on the mound.”That comfort level extends to catcher Jeff Mathis, the former Diamondback who signed a two-year free-agent contract during the offseason.“I have been very impressed with Mike,” Mathis said. “He’s got really good stuff. I mean the slider is devastating. He’s able to locate his fastball.”They worked together for the first time on Monday, a Cactus League game against the Dodgers. Minor needed 35 pitches to get out of the first inning.“I had to make pitches in tough spots,” Minor said. “My fastball was off. It was cutting a little bit, and then no curveball. So, I was pretty much pitching with a slider and a changeup.”On the plus side, he held the Dodgers scoreless in 3 1/3, striking out three, allowing three hits and walking three.“He’s got great poise on the mound,” said Hunter Pence, the former Giants outfielder whose locker is right next to Minor’s.“He seems to be the same guy every day,” Pence added. “He goes about his business. Not a lot of talking really, I even asked him about it and he said, ‘Yeah, I like to listen and kind of observe'”____