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Dickerson leads Reds past Pirates

Aug 15, 2008 - 3:13 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- It hasn't taken Chris Dickerson long to make an impact on the Cincinnati Reds.

In his second major league contest, the speedy outfielder collected three extra-base hits - including the go-ahead, run-scoring double - as the Reds defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates, 3-1, on Thursday.

Called up from Class AAA Louisville after the team traded Adam Dunn to the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this week, Dickerson has four extra-base hits in two games, including a stolen base.

"I don't know what to say. I felt pretty comfortable tonight," Dickerson said. "I think I worked off all the jitters in that first game, and from the first at-bat thought, I put together pretty good at-bats, and I kept the same approach."

Javier Valentin homered for the second time in the series and Johnny Cueto allowed only one run in five innings to win for the first time since July 7 for Cincinnati, which took two of three from the Pirates after coming to PNC Park having lost six in a row.

Francisco Cordero pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save of the season and 200th of his career.

Freddy Sanchez had three hits for the Pirates, who have lost four of six.

The 26-year-old Dickerson had two doubles and a triple. His two-out double in the sixth broke a 1-1 tie by scoring Andy Phillips, who had reached on a fielder's choice. He also tripled in the ninth and scored an insurance run on a bunt by Jeff Keppinger.

"It's just good placement, I guess," Dickerson said. "I just got good pitches to hit. All you can ask for is to get good pitches to hit and put a good swing on it, and that's what happened tonight."

Pittsburgh scored the game's first run in the opening inning when Andy LaRoche's two-out single plated Freddy Sanchez.

"It's one of those games that if you look at it, it's probably a game we should have won," Pirates manager John Russell said. "We had the opportunities, but it was just one of those nights. We couldn't come up with the big hit."

The Reds got that run right back, however, the following inning off Pirates starter Ian Snell when Valentin led off with a homer - his third of the season, but second in as many games played.

Snell (4-10) was charged with two runs, six hits and five walks in six innings. He has won only two of his past 21 starts since beginning the season 2-0.

Cueto (8-11) allowed one run and four hits while striking out seven in five innings.

"I'm glad he got the win because he's been pitching great lately," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "He got himself out of that first inning. If he would have had a 1-2-3 first inning, who knows how good his game would have been."

The Reds' bullpen did a fantastic job of protecting the lead. In addition to Cordero's work, David Weathers pitched a perfect eighth after Nick Masset, Bill Bray and Gary Majewski providing the bridge to the late frames.

The Pirates loaded the bases with nobody out after three consecutive singles to begin the seventh but did not score. Bray struck out Adam LaRoche, and Reds manager Dusty Baker summoned Majewski to face LaRoche's brother, Andy. Andy LaRoche hit the ball hard, but it was right at second baseman Brandon Phillips, who started a 6-4-3 double play to wiggle out of the jam.

"That was a big turning point in the game," Baker said. "Dickerson had a couple big hits and played a good game tonight, but the play of the game was when Bray struck out LaRoche and Majewski got that double play. That's what you want out of your sinkerball pitcher, to give you a chance at a double play."