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Belisle hands Pirates first loss

Apr 7, 2007 - 4:04 AM CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Matt Belisle got ahead so the Cincinnati Reds could get ahead.

Belisle pitched six outstanding innings and Jeff Conine belted his first home run with his new team as the Cincinnati Reds posted a chilly 6-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

After winning a job in the rotation this spring, Belisle yielded a run and four hits in six innings. He walked one, struck out six and retired 15 of the last 16 batters he faced. The righthander threw first-pitch strikes to 18 of the 23 batters he faced, including 12 straight at one point.

"It is the key for everybody to get ahead in the count," Belisle said. "Javy (Valentin) and Chad (Moeller) were on me all spring. They told me not to get picky just be aggressive."

Belisle missed part of last season with back spasms but even the 36 degree game-time temperature did not concern him.

"I've never pitched in snow flurries before," Belisle said. "I just made sure I didn't sit too long between innings. Pitchers have it better because we get moving. Since I hurt my back that's what I've tried to do is avoid sitting too long."

Ronny Paulino drove in the Pirates' lone run with a two-out single in the first.

"It was a bad pitch," Belisle said. "The pitch before was close and I thought I had him but no matter the next pitch wasn't good."

The Reds' bullpen closed the game with three innings of hitless ball. It has notched 9 2/3 scoreless frames over the first four games.

"The bullpen has been setup real nice," Narron said. "We're getting it done no matter what the conditions."

The 40-year-old Conine, who signed as a free agent this offseason after playing for Philadelphia and Baltimore in 2006, belted a 1-0 offering from Pittsburgh starter Paul Maholm (0-1) over the left field wall in the third inning for a 4-1 lead.

"The three-run home run by Conine hurt badly," Pittsburgh manager Jim Tracy said. "Especially on a night when runs were going to be at a premium with the weather getting worse as the night went on."

"I knew I hit it well enough," Conine said. "This isn't the deepest left field. I got a fastball inside that I could pull."

Ken Griffey Jr. made Conine's at-bat possible with an infield hit to shortstop with two outs.

"Griffey kept the inning going," Cincinnati manager Jerry Narron said. "With Conine and (Scott) Hatteberg at first, I have two guys that I'm very comfortable with."

Cincinnati's Brandon Phillips drilled his first homer of the season in the first inning, depositing a hanging breaking ball from Maholm into the right field stands.

Maholm surrendered four runs and seven hits in five innings as Pittsburgh dropped its first game after opening the season with three wins.

"Early on I reverted to what I did last year," Maholm said. "I was jumping at the plate. When I went out to warm up in the fourth inning, I felt it and corrected it."

Maholm allowed 29 first-inning runs in 30 starts last season.

"It was all adrenaline," Maholm said. "I didn't feel cold at all in all the time I was out there."