CINCINNATI -- Rookie starting pitcher Andrew Abbott is being pushed to his limits, and so too are multiple members of the bullpen. At the most critical portion of the season, it wasn't enough to get the Reds past the Pirates on Friday.

Cincinnati’s pitching gave away three different one-run leads during a 7-5 loss to Pittsburgh at Great American Ball Park. With seven games left in the regular season as they fight for a postseason spot, the Reds have dropped three in a row at an inopportune time.

“The mentality hasn’t changed. We’re still in the race. Obviously, this one hurts," said center fielder TJ Friedl, who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning that gave the Reds a brief 5-4 lead. "That was a back-and-forth, draining game, for both sides. We had every opportunity. We hit them and they hit back.”

• Games remaining: vs. PIT (2), at CLE (2), at STL (3)
• Standings update: The Reds (79-76) fell to 1 1/2 games behind the Cubs (80-74), who currently possess the third National League Wild Card. Cincinnati holds the tiebreaker over Chicago. The Marlins (79-75), remained a half-game ahead of the Reds and have the second tiebreaker, based on intradivision record. Cincinnati was also eliminated from the NL Central division race on Friday.

Over 4 1/3 innings, Abbott gave up two earned runs and four hits -- including two solo home runs -- with two walks and seven strikeouts. The lefty's 161 innings -- combined at the big leagues and Minors -- has far surpassed his previous professional high of 118 innings from last season. 

Abbott had five strikeouts through his first two innings. Most impressively, he punched out three straight batters after giving up a double and a single to open the second inning. But in the fourth inning, Ke'Bryan Hayes hit a 2-2 fastball for a game-tying homer to right field, and Henry Davis led off the fifth inning hitting a 1-2 sweeper to left field for a homer that put Pittsburgh ahead.

“I feel good every time out," Abbott said. "I think my routine really helps with that, just being able to feel good and take the ball whenever they need me to. During this time, I’ve never experienced this, so it’s kind of just new to me as well."

Abbott had a 1.90 ERA over his first 10 starts but has a 6.15 ERA over his past 10 games and has worked less than five innings in five of his past six outings. He isn't alone among Reds pitchers pushing their limits. 

Reliever Buck Farmer, who has a new career high with 72 1/3 innings in 2023, is second on the club with 68 appearances. Farmer trails only Ian Gibaut, who has 70 appearances and 72 innings -- which obliterates his previous high marks. 

Both relievers couldn't hold leads.

The Reds were up, 3-2, when Farmer gave up two solo homers in the top of the sixth inning to Jared Triolo and Endy Rodríguez. After Friedl's two-out, two-run homer to right-center field in the bottom of the sixth got the Reds their lead back, Gibaut allowed two runs in the top of the seventh.

The Pittsburgh rally against Gibaut opened when second baseman Jonathan India missed trying to backhand Ji Hwan Bae's grounder. Originally ruled an error, it was later changed to a single. After Bae stole second base, he scored on Bryan Reynolds' RBI single to left field.

After a Hayes single, Miguel Andujar hit a grounder to second base. A desperate throw by Elly De La Cruz to try and get an inning-ending double play went into the dugout as Reynolds scored the go-ahead run.

“Not taking anything away from the Pirates, they put the ball in play and made things happen," Reds manager David Bell said. "That inning certainly could have gone different. Not a lot of hard-hit balls."  

Another run crossed the plate in the Pirates' ninth inning as Daniel Duarte issued three walks, hit a batter and gave up a sacrifice fly. The Reds bullpen, which has thrown the fifth-most innings in MLB this season, has an 8.55 ERA over its past five games.

It was a game with five lead changes, but the Reds couldn't muster a sixth despite having the go-ahead run at the plate in the bottom of the ninth. Earlier this season, these were often the types of games Cincinnati won in thrilling fashion. 

Not on Friday.

“There’s no doubt in my mind that everybody gave it their all today," Friedl said. "Everyone goes after it hard, everyone wants a taste of that celebration, everyone wants a taste of that champagne. And we’re working hard for it and we’ve worked hard all season for it, and now it’s coming down to this.”