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Big fifth inning helps Reds pound Pirates

Apr 16, 2011 - 9:49 PM Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Ramon Hernandez's grand slam as part of a seven-run fifth inning helped the Cincinnati Reds to an 11-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Drew Stubbs hit a two-run homer in the fifth while Jonny Gomes added two homers of his own for the Reds, who snapped a two-game slide.

Mike Leake (2-0) went six innings and was charged with just two runs on four hits with four walks and six strikeouts for the win.

Garrett Jones and Ronny Cedeno each drove in a run for the Pirates, who have lost five of six. James McDonald (0-1) gave up seven runs -- six earned -- on nine hits with a pair of walks and strikeouts over just 4 1/3 innings.

"He was battling out there and was hurrying too much," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle on McDonald. "There were times we needed him to slow down and make a pitch and he just couldn't get it done."

With the game tied at 2-2 in the fifth, the Reds surged ahead in the bottom of the frame.

With the bases loaded, Juan Francisco singled home a run and Hernandez followed with a shot over the left field wall. After Mike Crotta entered the game and got the second out of the inning, Leake singled and Stubbs followed with a homer to right for a 9-2 lead.

"I got a good look at it and was able to get a good swing on it," said Hernandez. "I just wanted to make sure I got it out of the infield so we could get some runs."

Gomes' two-run shot in the seventh gave the Reds an 11-2 edge and Pittsburgh was unable to cut into its deficit the rest of the way.

Gomes led off the second with a homer to left and Joey Votto gave his team a 2-0 lead with a single in the third.

Pittsburgh, though, tied the game in the fourth on a bases loaded walk by Jones and a sacrifice fly from Cedeno to make it a 2-2 contest.

Game Notes

Francisco left the game in the eighth inning with an undisclosed injury...It was the sixth grand slam of Hernandez's career...Jeff Karstens throws Sunday for Pittsburgh in the third contest of this four-game set and will be opposed by Edinson Volquez.