Reds pitchers tie record for futility in awful day vs. Pirates

Cincinnati Reds pitchers did not have a great day on Saturday in a 17-7 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates. You usually do not need any further analysis when a team gives up 17 runs, but the manner in which the Reds allowed their runs is what makes it stand out so much. 

It was a record-tying performance in futility. 

Reds pitchers walk seven batters in a row to tie Major League record

It was in the bottom of the second inning when things really went sideways for the Reds, when pitchers Rhett Lowder, Connor Phillips, and Sam Moll combined to walk seven consecutive batters as part of a five-run inning.

The Pirates scored their first four runs of the inning without putting a single ball in play. 

After Oneil Cruz started the inning with a strikeout, Brandon Lowe, Bryan Reynolds, Ryan O'Hearn, Nick Gonzales, Marcell Ozuna, Spencer Horwitz and Konnor Griffin all drew consecutive walks. 

The 1909 Chicago White Sox and 1983 Atlanta Braves are the only other teams in Major League history to draw seven consecutive walks in a game.

Overall, Reds pitchers walked 11 batters for the game and allowed the Pirates to bat around three times in the first four innings of the game. Every Pirates starter drove in at least one run.

Things got so bad for Reds pitchers that catcher Jose Trevino had to pitch the seventh and eighth innings, making it the second time in as many games he had to pitch in relief. He also pitched the eighth inning in the Reds' 9-1 loss to the Pirates on Friday night.

Between the pitchers and Trevino, the Reds threw 211 pitches on Saturday in eight innings, with only 111 of them going for strikes.

By comparison, Pirates pitchers threw just 129 pitches, with 89 of them going for strikes. 

The Reds still have one of the best records in the National League at 20-13, but there are some red flags with that mark. Specifically, the fact that they have now been outscored by 21 runs for the season, by far the worst mark in the National League Central. Only four teams in the entire NL have a worse run differential for the season.