Trending
CINCINNATI (AP) -- Colin Moran hit a grand slam and a two-run homer against his former team, powering the Cincinnati Reds to a 7-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.
Tyler Mahle pitched five solid innings and the Reds rallied from a 2-0 deficit in the sixth. Cincinnati took two of three against Pittsburgh to win a series for the first time this season, improving the majors' worst record to 5-23.
The Reds had lost nine straight and 20 of 21 before winning the first game of Saturday's doubleheader. Friday night's game was rained out.
Moran's bases-loaded drive to right field in the sixth gave Cincinnati a 5-2 lead. He homered to center with Kyle Farmer on first base in the eighth, giving him six RBIs in a game for the first time in his career. They were his first two home runs this season.
Moran spent the past four seasons with Pittsburgh after arriving from Houston in a trade for Gerrit Cole. He signed with the Reds in March and has started the last six games at first base with slugger Joey Votto on the COVID-19 injured list. Moran began the day batting .184 with one extra-base hit.
He was coy when asked how special it was to do so much offensive damage against his old team.
"It feels good any time you hit a grand slam," Moran said. "But yeah, it all felt good."
Reds manager David Bell was more effusive.
"The clubhouse is so happy for him," Bell said. "Such a professional. He started the season not playing a lot and has just stayed ready. Works super hard, quiet, but we know he can hit. To do it right there against his old team, it was just a great day. There's something special when you have your friends over there to be able to come through like that."
Mahle allowed only one hit, a two-run homer by Michael Perez in the second. Art Warren (1-1) struck out three in two scoreless innings for the win.
"You look at what Art did, coming in and shutting down those middle innings," Bell said. "I think there's a lot to be said for that and just the momentum of what that does for your offense."