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Frazier's homer in the ninth lifts Reds over Pirates

Jun 18, 2014 - 6:18 AM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Todd Frazier's go-ahead, solo homer in the ninth inning lifted the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 6-5, in the opener of a three-game series at PNC Park on Tuesday.

Frazier crushed a fastball off Jason Grilli (0-2) over the center-field fence to lead off the inning for his 16th home run of the season.

"He threw me two straight sliders and I was hoping to get a fastball there and I did," said Frazier.

Aroldis Chapman walked a batter and allowed a base hit in the bottom half of the frame. Chris Heisey made a game-saving catch at the left-field wall to help Chapman secure his 12th save of the season. Logan Ondrusek (2-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings of relief to earn the win.

Billy Hamilton finished 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and three stolen bases. Joey Votto collected two hits and three RBI, while Ryan Ludwick and Brayan Pena each drove in a run for the Reds, who have won five of their last six.

Josh Harrison went 4-for-5 with two RBI and Russell Martin drove in a pair for Pittsburgh, which has lost two straight since winning four straight.

"We missed a couple of opportunities," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "We did what you need to do to put yourself in position to score."

Hamilton smacked a double that bounced over third baseman Pedro Alvarez's head to lead off the game. He swiped third then scored on Votto's single to right.

The Pirates answered in the second with a two-out, RBI double to center from Harrison. Martin, who reached on a walk, scored on the play.

A Gregory Polanco base hit, an Andrew McCutchen double and an Ike Davis walk loaded the bases with one out in the third. Johnny Cueto missed high on a full-count fastball to Martin to put the Pirates up 2-1. Hamilton threw out McCutchen at home on a sac fly to keep the deficit at one.

Brandon Phillips singled and Jay Bruce doubled to start the fourth. Ludwick's liner up the middle tied the game and Pena's force out pushed the Reds ahead by a run.

Votto's two-run line drive to center scored Hamilton and Todd Frazier to increase the Reds cushion to 5-2. Hamilton had his second bunt single and stolen base of the game, while Frazier singled and stole second to get into scoring position.

With runners on the corners and one out in the seventh, Davis dropped a single in center off reliever Sam LeCure to pull within two. Martin's base hit up the middle scored McCutchen from second. Manny Parra struck out Gaby Sanchez before Josh Harrison tied the game off Ondrusek with a single to center.

Game Notes

It was Harrison's third career four-hit game ... Hamilton has 28 stolen bases this season ... Reds starter Cueto allowed just two runs on seen hits with four walks in six innings ... Pirates starter Brandon Cumpton yielded three runs on eight hits over six frames ... Polanco has hit safely in his first seven major league games, the last Pirates' player to do so was Roberto Clemente in 1955 ... McCutchen extended his hit streak to 12 games, going 1- for-4 ... Pittsburgh has lost six of its eight matchups with the Reds this season ... The game lasted three hours and 54 minutes.