Law of Averages Catch Up to Homer Bailey and the Reds

The Pittsburgh Pirates were traumatized by the Reds' righthander Homer Bailey just a week ago.

Bailey threw his second career complete game against the Pirates and was a perfect 6-0 against them coming into the opening of the Reds' nine-game homestand.

There were indications in the first inning that the trend would continue.  The Pirates were scoreless in the first inning.  The Reds first three batters reached base against A.J. Burnett, the Pirates starter.

Zack Cozart singled and Drew Stubbs walked to start the inning.  The NL leading All-Star Vote recipient, Joey Votto singled to raise his batting average to a red-hot .350 with an RBI single.  Jay Bruce delivered the second run with a sacrifice fly.

That's when the worm turned in the 8-4 loss.

Garrett Jones singled, then stole second.  He advanced to third on a ground out. Jones scored on a single by Casey McGehee.

While Burnett began to settle in, Bailey was headed south.  Alex Presley, who was reactivated from the disabled list this morning, tripled.  Presley trotted home on Neil Walker's third home run of the season.  Bailey got the next two hitters but Matt Hague singled.  McGehee and Rod Barajas walked to load the bases.  Clint Barmes hit a two-run single to put the Pirates ahead, 6-2.

Bailey's night was done with his shortest stint of the season.  Bailey had eight quality starts in his first 10 outings.

"It was one of those nights," said Bailey, who had an extra day between starts. "I got my fastball up and didn't have command of my curve or slider.  When that happens ite is going to be a short night."

The Reds' league-leading bullpen wasn't as sharp either.  Alfredo Simon turned in a scoreless inning but J.J. Hoover gave up a pair of solo home runs.  McGehee hit his first of the season. Presley hit his third of the season.

"Homer's been one of our more dependable pitchers.  He just wasn't sharp tonight," Dusty Baker said.  "If he gets out of the inning, we could have saved our bullpen.  You hate to use your bullpen like that the first game of a series.  We have (Johnny) Cueto going tomorrow.  Hopefully, he can go deep into the game."

The Reds chased Burnett in the sixth.  The inning had a promising start.  Bruce walked and Chris Heisey singled him to third.  Burnett gave way to Chris Resop.  Todd Frazier hit a long fly to center but Andrew McCutchen gloved it easily while Bruce trotted home.

The Reds loaded the bases in the seventh but Resop struck Heisey out, the 12th Red to fan.

The Reds threatened again in the ninth off Tony Watson.  Zack Cozart, Wilson Valdez and Votto singled to plate one run but Pirate manager Clint Hurdle summoned Joel Hanrahan who struck out Brandon Phillips, Bruce and Heisey for his 15th save.

Valdez was making his second career appearance in centerfield.  He played two innings in center for the Los Angeles Dodgers on May 14, 2007.  He replaced Stubbs, who felt something in his side when he fouled a ball off in his last at bat.

"We left a lot of men on base," Baker said. "We struck out 15 times.  We just couldn't get the big hit.  Their big blow was Barmes' two-out single."

The Pirates closed to within two games of the Reds in the NL Central.