The Pittsburgh Pirates came off the mat for the third day in a row. Friday they trailed 3-1 in the ninth and tied the game. Saturday they scored four runs in the eighth when they were behind 3-0. Sunday the Reds held a slim 1-0 lead in the ninth and scored on a three-run double by Andrew McCutchen off Francisco Cordero.
The Reds' maligned closer walked John Bowker to start the ninth. Ryan Doumit singled to center. Lastings Milledge bunted back to Cordero, who nailed Bowker at third. Pinch hitter Garrett Jones singled hard to center to load the bases. Pinch hitter, Jose Tabata hit a one-hopper to Votto, who got the force at home. McCutchen was down 0-2 and took a pitch before he lined a ball into the leftfield corner to clear the bases.
Johnny Cueto was in middle school the last time the Reds had a winning season.
Cueto has allowed the Pittsburgh Pirates just four runs in 33 innings over five starts.
Neil Walker extended his hitting streak to 17 games with a dribbler in the first inning. Pedro Alverez and Lastings Milledge hit singles in the seventh. Cueto walked two.
Joey Votto drove home his 102nd run of the season with a double in the fourth, following Orlando Cabrera's double off Brian Burres. Combined with two singles by Ramon Hernandez the Reds managed just four hits off the Pirates lefthander.
Logan Ondrusek and Arthur Rhodes relieved Cueto. Ondrusek got the first two Pirates in the eighth but rookie Alex Presley singled. Rhodes walked Walker. Alvarez hit a sharp grounder to Cairo at third, who was giving Scott Rolen a day off. He momentarily bobbled the ball but nipped Alvarez at first for the final out of the inning.
On Friday and Saturday the Reds responded after losing the lead by scoring. Heisey was involved in both. This time Joel Hanrahan retired Votto on a ground out and Gomes on a swinging strike. Then he nearly self destructed. He hit Hernandez with a pitch, surrendered a single to Cairo. Then he walked Stubbs. Heisey came up with a chance to become the hero again. He got down 0 and 2 but battled to get the count even, fouling off three pitches. Hanrahan got him on a called third strike.
The Reds have to wait another day for its 82nd win.
Cincinnati Sports News and Commentary
About Me
- Gary Schatz
- I am a freelance writer. I've covered the Cincinnati Reds, Bengals and others since 1992. I have a background in sales as well. I've sold consumer electronics, advertising and consumer package goods for companies ranging from the now defunct Circuit City to Procter&Gamble. I have worked as a stats operator for Xavier University, the University of Cincinnati, the College of Mount St. Joe and Colerain High School.
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