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Reds score two in ninth, edge Pirates

Aug 22, 2011 - 12:30 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - The Reds scored twice off All-Star closer Joel Hanrahan in the ninth inning to rally past the Pirates, 5-4, in the finale of a three-game series on Sunday.

Hanrahan (0-3) blew his third save of the season, giving up three singles and two walks before he was pulled.

Ramon Hernandez had an RBI base hit to tie the game and the go-ahead run scored on Brandon Phillips' ground out, which the Pirates couldn't convert into a double play that would have ended the inning.

Joey Votto hit a three-run homer earlier for the Reds, who won two of three in the series.

Jose Tabata signed a six-year contract extension before the game and scored twice for the Pirates, both times on two-run homers by Andrew McCutchen and Garrett Jones.

Ryan Doumit singled to lead off the bottom of the ninth for Pittsburgh, but pinch runner Josh Harrison was caught stealing second. Neil Walker doubled, but Francisco Cordero settled down to record his 26th save of the season.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was ejected by second baseman Brian Knight for arguing the Harrison call. Knight also ejected Hurdle on Friday for arguing from inside the dugout.

Jose Arredondo (3-3) earned the win with two innings of relief for Reds starter Mike Leake, who worked six frames.

"I wish we could do that every game with one-run ballgames, but we haven't had too much luck with them," said Leake.

Hanrahan had blown two previous saves this season, but Sunday marked the first time he let the Pirates down in the ninth.

Todd Frazier singled to lead off and Ryan Hanigan drew a one-out walk before Hernandez delivered his RBI single through the left side.

"He hung a slider," Hurdle said of Hanrahan's pitch to Hernandez. "If that ball's hit five feet the other way, we turn a double play."

Miguel Cairo followed with a pinch-hit single and Walker and Ronny Cedeno were unable to turn a double play on Phillips' softly hit ball, giving the Reds their 5-4 lead.

Hanrahan walked his final batter, Fred Lewis, before Daniel McCutchen came in to strike out Votto to end the inning.

"I didn't get any breaks," said Hanrahan. "They scored the winning run on a weak ground ball. He hits it harder, we get a double play."

The game had two rains delays totaling 61 minutes -- at the start and during the top of the seventh inning.

Tabata singled to lead off the first inning and scored on McCutchen's two-run homer to left-center for a 2-0 Pirates lead.

After Votto belted a three-run homer in the top of the sixth, scoring Phillips and Fred Lewis to give the Reds a 3-2 lead, Tabata led off the bottom of the inning with a triple and came home on Jones' two-run blast to make it 4-3.

Pittsburgh starter James McDonald pitched six innings and was in line for the win after giving up three runs on three hits.

Game Notes

The Pirates are still 8-4 against the Reds this season...McDonald and the Pirates beat Leake and the Reds, 1-0, on July 19...Pittsburgh is 3-3 on a 10- game homestand...Cincinnati is 3-3 on a nine-game road trip...Reds bench coach Chris Speier was ejected in the eighth inning by home plate umpire Bob Davidson for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout.