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Morton goes the distance in Pirates' win over Reds

Apr 16, 2011 - 6:11 AM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Charlie Morton went the distance, while Garrett Jones and Neil Walker each homered in Pittsburgh's 6-1 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at Great American Ball Park.

Morton (2-0) was one out away from his second career shutout, but yielded a home run to Jay Bruce. Nevertheless, the right-hander matched his win total from 2010 by allowing just five hits and two walks while fanning three.

"I felt good ... I got in a zone," Morton said. "I got ahead and stayed aggressive and got outs."

Jose Tabata had four hits, while Chris Snyder went 3-for-5 with two runs driven in for the Pirates, who knocked around Cincinnati pitching for 14 hits.

Bronson Arroyo (2-1) was pulled after four innings, having surrendered five runs on nine hits for the Reds, who were coming off a 3-2 loss in their series-finale at San Diego.

"Bronson didn't have his command tonight," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

Jones golfed one into the right-field seats leading off the second, and Snyder lined a bases-loaded single to right to plate Lyle Overbay during Pittsburgh's next at-bat.

Overbay knocked in Tabata with a single in the fourth, then came trotting home when Walker followed with his third home run of the season.

The Reds had two on and one out in the sixth, but Morton got a fielder's choice ground ball off the bat of Scott Rolen and a flyout from Jonny Gomes to keep it 5-0.

Logan Ondrusek entered from the Reds' bullpen in the ninth and walked Walker, who came around to score on a Snyder single.

Morton retired Rolen and Gomes to open the bottom half before Bruce powered one to straightaway center for his first home run of the season. Morton completed his gem by getting Miguel Cairo on a flyout.

Game Notes

Morton's only other complete game came in a shutout win over the Chicago Cubs on September 30, 2009. He came in 1-4 with a 6.34 earned-run average against the Reds and was 2-12 in 17 starts last year...Andrew McCutchen, leading off for the first time this season for Pittsburgh, went 0-for-5 with four strikeouts...Arroyo had won his previous five decisions dating back to last season...Reds second baseman Brandon Phillips sat out due to a groin strain...Matt Maloney threw four shutout innings of relief for Cincinnati.