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Bailey goes the distance as Reds top Pirates

May 30, 2012 - 5:07 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - After more than two years, Homer Bailey finally pitched his second career complete game.

In the same place he got his first.

Bailey gave up just four hits and a walk Tuesday while striking out five and the Cincinnati Reds rolled to an 8-1 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Throwing 77 of his 103 pitches for strikes, Bailey (4-3) picked up his first complete game since a four-hit shutout over the Pirates on May 12, 2010.

"We struck a couple balls well early, but then after that not a whole lot to speak of," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "We look forward to winning the series tomorrow."

He added two hits, including an RBI single, as the Reds bounced back from a 4-1 loss in the opener of the three-game series on Monday.

The game was delayed almost two hours because of rain, but the Reds showed little rust. They had 12 hits, including three from Jay Bruce, for their ninth win in 11 games.

Pirates starter Charlie Morton (2-6) gave up four runs on six hits and a walk in four innings to take the loss, his third straight.

The Reds took a 2-0 lead on RBI doubles by Bruce and Todd Frazier in the second inning, the only runs they would end up needing.

They went up 4-0 in the fourth after Bruce led off with a double. He went to third on a wild pitch and scored on Frazier's triple to the left field wall. Frazier also scored on the play after shortstop Josh Harrison's relay throw sailed over the Pirates dugout and into the stands.

Andrew McCutchen's two-out triple in the first inning was the Pirates' only hit until the fifth, when they recorded back-to-back-to-back singles by Matt Hague, Rod Barajas and pinch-hitter Casey McGehee. Hague scored on McGehee's hit to get the Pirates within 4-1.

It was the only run Bailey would allow.

"He had great command of his fastball, he threw some outstanding breaking balls and changeups and he minimized his pitches," said Reds manager Dusty Baker. "He threw a great ball game."

Bruce walked against Chris Resop to lead off the sixth inning and scored later on Bailey's two-out single to make it 5-1. The Reds then scored three runs off Jared Hughes in the seventh to build an 8-1 lead. Brandon Phillips, Bruce and Ryan Ludwick had three straight RBI singles in the inning.

Game Notes

The Pirates recalled infielder Jordy Mercer from Indianapolis on Tuesday and optioned infielder Yamaico Navarro to the Triple-A club...The Pirates had a four-game winning streak snapped and fell to 5-3 on a nine-game homestand.