Cueeeeeeee-toooo! Cueeeeeeee-toooo!
The thousands of Pirates fans at PNC Park started chanting Reds starter Johnny Cueto's last name in the second inning of the NL Wild Card game on Tuesday. Having already given up a solo home run in the inning, Cueto stood on the mound and took his time before throwing a 2-1 pitch to Pittsburgh catcher Russell Martin. As the chants grew louder, Cueto dropped the ball.
The chants grew even louder. Cueto retrieved the ball and got back on the mound. The next pitch -- a 95-mph fastball right down the middle -- was drilled by Martin into the left field seats.
2-0, Pirates.
Cueto later allowed two two-out singles (the first by Pittsburgh pitcher Francisco Liriano) before finally getting out of the inning thanks to Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier's diving catch.
The 27-year-old right-hander didn't last much longer after the second inning. Pittsburgh tacked on another run in the third and Cueto was removed in the fourth after giving up a one-out double. He finished with seven hits allowed, three runs (two earned), one walk and no strikeouts.
Did the Pittsburgh fans get into Cueto's head? It certainly looked like it to some in the Twitterverse watching the game.
UPDATE: Russell Martin hit another home run in the seventh inning as the Pirates went on to win 6-2. Liriano pitched seven solid innings, scattering four hits and striking out five. The Pirates will play the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.
UPDATE: Russell Martin hit another home run in the seventh inning as the Pirates went on to win 6-2. Liriano pitched seven solid innings, scattering four hits and striking out five. The Pirates will play the St. Louis Cardinals in the NLDS.