Bryan Reynolds’ Mixed Experience at the All-Star GameBryan Reynolds’ Mixed Experience at the All-Star Game In contrast to his teammate Paul Skenes’ impressive debut, Pittsburgh Pirates’ Bryan Reynolds had a contrasting experience at the 2024 All-Star Game. Skenes showcased his talent as the National League’s starting pitcher, while Reynolds entered as a reserve and faced challenges in his lone at-bat. However, in the seventh inning, Reynolds broke through, singling to left field off the fastball of American League pitcher Seth Lugo. This marked Reynolds’ second All-Star selection. His 25-game hitting streak earned him a spot on the National League roster. Replacing Jurickson Profar in left field, Reynolds batted ninth. While facing Lugo, Reynolds capitalized on a 95.1-mph heater, driving to right field and putting runners on base. Lugo eventually struck out Ryan McMahon, ending the inning. Reynolds had a second opportunity in the ninth, but Cleveland’s Emmanuel Clase prevented him from reaching base with three consecutive cutters. Despite the contrasting performances, both Reynolds and Skenes represented the Pittsburgh Pirates at the All-Star Game, showcasing the team’s talent on the national stage.
Bryan Reynolds had a very different experience at the All-Star Game than his Pittsburgh Pirates teammate.
Paul Skenes was the starter for the National League, giving up no hits and striking out no batters in the first inning. Reynolds was a reserve who was knocked out in his first at bat and ended the game in a loss.
Reynolds, a left-handed hitter, singled to left field on Seth Lugo’s fastball in the seventh inning of Tuesday night’s American League’s 5-3 victory at Globe Life Field in Arlington, Texas.
No matter the occasion, Bryan Reynolds always gets to base. photo.twitter.com/bAz3HkWhm2
—Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 17, 2024
Reynolds earned his second All-Star Game selection — he was also selected in 2021 and ultimately started in center field — thanks to an MLB-best 25-game streak. The Pirates outfielder replaced the San Diego Padres’ Jurickson Profar in left field in the sixth inning and batted ninth.
After Cincinnati Reds’ Elly De La Cruz hit a leadoff single, Padres center fielder Jackson Merrill struck out Detroit’s Riley Greene, who made a sliding catch in left field. Facing Lugo, Reynolds drove to the Kansas City Royals right-handed pitcher’s 95.1-mph heater in the lower left corner of the strike zone to put runners on first and second. Lugo struck out Colorado’s Ryan McMahon to get Atlanta’s Marcell Ozuna, who was pinch-hitting for Shohei Ohtani, who grounded out to short to end the frame.
Reynolds got another turn in the ninth inning, when Merrill hit a two-out single. But Cleveland closer Emmanuel Clase, who leads the American League with 29 saves, threw three straight 99-mph cutters to get Reynolds’ final out on a foul tip.
Kevin Gorman is a TribLive reporter who covers the Pirates. He is originally from Baldwin and is a Penn State graduate. He joined the Trib in 1999 and has covered high school sports, Pitt football and basketball. He was a sports columnist for 10 years. You can reach him at [email protected].
