Homer Bailey Shines as Reds Close in on Central Division Title

Homer Bailey shook off his two-game losing streak against the Pirates and pitched like an ace in the Reds' 2-1 win over Pittsburgh.

The Reds' arch rival (pardon the pun) was swept earlier today in San Diego, dropping the final contest 3-2.

That loss dropped the Cardinals to a whopping 11 full games behind the Reds and reduced the Reds' magic number for clinching the division to nine.  Any combination of Reds' wins and Cardinal losses that add to nine gives the Reds the division title.

But first the Reds were trying to complete a sweep of their own.  Pittsburgh is reeling from its season-high five game losing streak.  The Pirates sent it's ace, A.J. Burnett and his 15-6 record to the mound against the Reds' Bailey with a 10-9 record.

Cincinnati scored first in front of 21,203 fans on a ground out by Wilson Valdez, subbing at shortstop for the injured Zack Cozart.  Ryan Hanigan singled to start the frame.  Bailey struck out but Brandon Phillips singled.  A wild pitch moved the runners up so Hanigan was able to score.

Bailey, who has an ERA more than one run per game higher at home, pitched like an ace.  He turned in his 19th quality start.  That is second on the Reds' staff to Johnny Cueto's 20.

The Pirates scored just once off Bailey.  Andrew McCutchen, Garrett Jones and Gaby Sanchez opened the fourth with three straight singles.  Bailey bowed his neck and got out of the inning without another run scoring.

Bailey survived a one-out triple by Alex Presley in the sixth.  With Clint Barmes batting, Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle called a squeeze.  Bailey threw the pitch so far outside that Barmes couldn't reach it.  Hanigan scrambled to the plate just in time to tag Presley for a caught stealing to end the threat.

Ryan Ludwick doubled in the bottom half to start the inning.  Jay Bruce flied to very deep center, the second time he had put McCutchen on the warning track.  Ludwick raced to third.  Scott Rolen, returning from a bad back and allowing Todd Frazier to get some time off, flied out to deep left to get Ludwick home.

The game was turned over to the respective bullpens.  Bailey finished with seven innings of six-hit, one-run baseball.  Burnett lasted six innings, allowing two runs on five hits.

Sam LeCure pitched a clean eighth inning.

Young J.J. Hoover was given the ball while Aroldis Chapman rests a tired shoulder.  The rookie picked up from Atlanta in March for Juan Francisco, was attempting his first career save and trying to avoid making Bailey the victim of a team-high seventh blown save.  He was born and raised in Pittsburgh.

Hoover allowed a two-out single by Barmes but struck out pinch hitter, Jose Tabata to earn his first save.