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Reds-Pirates Preview

Apr 17, 2010 - 6:30 AM By NICOLINO DIBENEDETTO STATS Writer

Cincinnati (5-6) at Pittsburgh (5-5), 7:05 p.m. EDT

The Pittsburgh Pirates don't care how it happens, as long as they win. They're certainly finding ways to do it at PNC Park.

The Pirates look for their fourth win in five home games Saturday night when they face the Cincinnati Reds in the middle game of this series.

Pittsburgh (5-5) lost 99 games last year en route to its 17th straight losing season. However, the Pirates went 40-41 in their downtown ballpark, and are showing improvement there early in 2010 by winning three of four and rallying in their last two victories there.

Lastings Milledge delivered Friday, connecting for a walkoff single to drive in Andrew McCutchen and clinch a 4-3 win over Cincinnati (5-6). The left fielder's game-winning hit came after the Pirates' bullpen squandered a three-run, eighth-inning lead.

"(Closer Octavio) Dotel said it best: 'It doesn't matter, as long as we win,'" manager John Russell told the team's official website. "They're all pulling together."

Milledge and Andrew McCutchen are two budding stars that are providing a spark for Pittsburgh.

Milledge is 7 for 21 with a double over his last five games, accumulating four hits in the last two. McCutchen has spurred the three home victories by going 6 for 13 with five runs and two stolen bases. The center fielder is among baseball's leaders with six steals with one setting up Milledge's heroics Friday.

"Cutch definitely made the whole thing possible by stealing second base," Milledge said. "He's being very aggressive on the bases and he can really fly. The way he's going right now, it's hard to throw him out."

While Milledge and McCutchen are emerging for Pittsburgh, Russell is unsure of who will get the start on the mound with Ross Ohlendorf out for a second consecutive start due to back spasms.

The choices are Brian Burres (0-1, 13.50) and Daniel McCutchen (0-1, 24.30).

Burres, a left-hander, started for Ohlendorf on Monday, and was tagged for six runs and eight hits in four innings of a 9-3 loss at San Francisco.

Daniel McCutchen, who will need to be recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis, didn't fare much better the previous day, surrendering nine runs and six hits, including three homers, with three walks in 3 1-3 innings of a 15-6 defeat at Arizona.

The right-hander, however, has had success in two starts against the Reds, going 1-0 with a 2.92 ERA while limiting them to .196 at the plate.

Cincinnati is trying to end a three-game slide, and will turn to Johnny Cueto (0-0, 4.91 ERA), who looks to continue his road dominance of the Pirates.

The right-hander labored through his most recent outing Monday, throwing 110 pitches over five innings while giving up four runs and nine hits in a 6-5, 10-inning win at Florida.

Cueto is 6-1 with a 3.15 ERA in seven starts against the Pirates, winning all three meetings in Pittsburgh while posting a 1.50 ERA.

The Reds will likely have third baseman Scott Rolen and first baseman Joey Votto back in the lineup after both were rested Friday.

Rolen is hitting .340 with 52 RBIs in 60 games at Pittsburgh, while Votto has a .467 average in 13 games there.