Pirates 3 - 1 Reds
Final
  for this game

Pirates win again, top Reds

Sep 27, 2014 - 6:03 AM Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Josh Harrison set a new career-best hit streak and scored the game-winning run in the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied to a 3-1 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

With two outs in the top of the eighth, Harrison singled to center to extend his hit streak to 14 games. Travis Snider then sliced a liner to right that spun away from a sliding Jay Bruce and rolled to the wall. The speedy Harrison scored easily from first.

Gregory Polanco pinch-ran for Snider and scored to make it 3-1 when MVP candidate Andrew McCutchen crushed a two-bagger to center. McCutchen, who won the NL MVP last season, is considered a longshot to repeat despite being one of the best hitters in the league due to the dominance of Dodgers' pitcher Clayton Kershaw.

The win pulled Pittsburgh within a half-game of St. Louis for first place in the NL Central. The Cardinals are in action against Arizona tonight. Both teams have already clinched a playoff berth.

The Pirates have won 17 of 21.

"I don't necessarily call it momentum, I just call it going out and getting the job done," McCutchen said. "That's what we're doing."

Vance Worley gave up a run on nine hits in 6 1/3 innings, departing in the seventh after giving up a one-out single to Tucker Barnhart. Jared Hughes (7-5) came on and secured the last two outs of the inning to pick up the win.

Gaby Sanchez came up in the top of the fifth and crushed a first-pitch fastball out to left field, breaking a scoreless draw with his seventh homer of the season.

Reds starting pitcher Mike Leake made amends for the homer a half inning later, doubling to left with two outs. Kris Negron then singled to center and Leake ran through a stop sign from his third base coach and slid in safely to tie it.

Leake struck out eight and gave up a run on three hits in seven innings of work. Pedro Villarreal (0-2) did not have as much success, as he was charged with both runs in the eighth to absorb the loss.

"I always feel like we're going to get a great game from Mike, and he was solid again today," said Reds manager Bryan Price.

Tony Watson pitched the eighth for Pittsburgh and registered his 17th consecutive scoreless outing, and Mark Melancon converted his 33rd save of the season.

Game Notes

McCutchen's double was the 200th of his career ... Cincinnati outhit the Pirates, 11-6 ... Cincinnati's bullpen fell to 0-17 since the All-Star break.






Related News