PITTSBURGH _ The sight of manager Clint Hurdle walking to the mound in the second inning wasn't initially surprising, given how Tyler Glasnow's outing was proceeding. He had walked four batters in a row in the first inning, then allowed three hits in the second, while his pitch count ballooned.
But Hurdle didn't yank him. He didn't cover his mouth, either. This was not a strategy session. It was an uncharacteristic move for the seventh-year Pirates manager, attempting to calm his 23-year-old pitcher who was up to his ears in baserunners and fighting his control.
Eventually Hurdle had to go back out, after another walk, and end Glasnow's night early. The five-run deficit Glasnow left behind was enough for the Cincinnati Reds, who won 7-1 Monday night at PNC Park.
The Pirates gave Glasnow the fifth spot in the rotation after a spring competition that also featured Steven Brault, Trevor Williams and Drew Hutchison. The former No. 1 prospect in the Pirates' system, who ranked third this year according to Baseball America, debuted last summer after dominating the minor leagues.
"There's going to be some growing pains along the way," Hurdle said when he announced that Glasnow had won the spot. "However, what he can bring to the table and how that can play out, there's a ceiling there that's significant."
At his best, Glasnow has weapons few can rival. His fastball used to consistently hit 95 mph and higher; he paired that with a sharp curveball roughly 15 mph slower. But he struggles with control, he does not have a consistent third pitch and he has yet to corral opposing baserunners. Last season, nine runners stole successfully against him. None were caught.
He added a slide step to reduce his delivery time. What better a referendum on his ability to control the running game than Reds leadoff hitter Billy Hamilton, one of the fastest men in baseball?
"He's not the only guy that runs; he's the most dynamic," Hurdle said before the game. "That'll all be a part of that. (Bench coach) Tom (Prince) will help with that, Francisco (Cervelli) will help with that, so it's a group effort. We have let him know that he doesn't have to do this all by himself."
Hamilton led off with a single and promptly stole second, one of his two steals against Glasnow on the night and one of four against him overall.
Hamilton's speed is such that he advanced to third on a pop-out to shallow right field. Then the walks started. Joey Votto, Adam Duvall, Eugenio Suarez and Scott Schebler all took a base on balls, and by the time the inning was over, 43 pitches later, three runs were in.
Base hits did the damage in the second. Hamilton and Jose Peraza singled. Glasnow struck out Votto swinging at a curveball, but Duvall's two-run single brought Hurdle to the mound for the first time. After another walk, Hurdle went back out.
Glasnow recorded five outs. He walked five batters and allowed five runs on four hits. He threw 35 strikes and 29 balls.
His counterpart Monday night, Brandon Finnegan, matched Glasnow ball for ball. In two-plus innings he walked five. Twice the Pirates loaded the bases against him with nobody out. They scored one run, when Cervelli walked with the bases loaded. Wade LeBlanc, who had not had more than one at-bat in a season since 2013, hit three times Monday. He struck out with the bases loaded twice.
LeBlanc pitched 5 1/3 innings of relief and allowed one run, on Eugenio Suarez's homer.
