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CINCINNATI(AP) The
Pittsburgh Pirates
passed a couple of miserable milestones as they got closer to setting a record for losing.
Brandon Phillips
and
Drew Stubbs
each homered Wednesday to help the Reds complete their first sweep of a four-game series in Cincinnati in more than 30 years,
coming from behind for a 5-3 win over the Pirates.
''It's hard to sweep a team in four games,'' Reds manager
Dusty Baker
said. ''You don't see that much.''
The Reds swept Pittsburgh in four games at home for the first time since Aug. 14-17, 1975, and sent the Pirates to their seventh
consecutive loss, one short of their season high. Pittsburgh is three losses from becoming the first major American professional
franchise with 17 consecutive losing seasons.
Cincinnati's last sweep of any four against Pittsburgh was July 2-5, 1992, the last year the Pirates finished with a winning
record.
The loss also was Pittsburgh's 11th straight on the road, leaving manager
John Russell
looking forward to getting home, even though the Pirates (53-79) open a three-game series against Central Division-leading
St. Louis on Friday. Pittsburgh is 35-29 at PNC Park.
''We'll be all right,'' Russell said. ''We play good at home. Turn the page.''
Reds starter
Homer Bailey
set a career high in strikeouts for the second straight start, fanning eight in 6 1-3 innings. Bailey (5-4) allowed three
runs on seven hits.
''I've got to credit our offense,'' Bailey said. ''I'm glad they had my back. The bullpen came in and did a good job, and
any time your teammates play like that, you've got to give credit to them.''
Arthur Rhodes
and
Nick Masset
combined to retire five consecutive batters - four on strikeouts - before
Francisco Cordero
pitched the ninth for his 30th save.
Garrett Jones
and
Brandon Moss
homered for the Pirates but starter
Zach Duke
couldn't hold a 3-2 sixth inning lead.
Stubbs, who hit three home runs while spending most of the season at Triple-A Louisville, led off the sixth with his fourth
homer since joining the Reds on Aug. 19.
Paul Janish
reached on an error by third baseman Neil Walker, making his first career start, and
Joey Votto
- who got Tuesday off - snapped a career-high 0 for 16 slump with a ground-rule double to center field.
''That was big for Joey,'' Baker said. ''The day off helped Joey. His concentration and focus seemed (more) like Joey. When
he has that, he's as good as there is around.''
Phillips grounded out to second to drive in Janish with the go-ahead run. After
Jonny Gomes
grounded out to drawn-in shortstop
Ronny Cedeno
,
Darnell McDonald
hit an infield single to Cedeno, safely sliding in headfirst at first base as Votto crossed the plate.
Duke (10-13) lasted six innings, allowing nine hits and five runs - three earned - with one walk and four strikeouts.
''It was all right,'' Duke said. ''Obviously, that sixth inning bit me. I left a couple of pitches out there, and they made
me pay for it.''
Phillips hit a two-out single to give the Reds a 1-0 lead in the first inning.
Jones led off the second with his 18th homer of the season, most among major league rookies.
Phillips responded with his 19th homer of the season - an opposite-field solo shot into the visitors' bullpen down the right
field line - to give the Reds a 2-1 lead in the fourth, but Moss tied it again by leading off the fifth with his seventh homer
of the season.
The Pirates went ahead on back-to-back doubles by
Lastings Milledge
and
Ryan Doumit
with two outs in the sixth inning.
NOTES: Jones's home run was the 10,000th in the 123-year history of the Pittsburgh franchise. The Pirates are the 14th of
the 16 pre-expansion teams to reach 10,000 homers. ... The Reds promoted left-handed pitcher Pedro Viola from Triple-A Louisville.
To make room for Viola on their 40-man roster, the Reds transferred infielder
Danny Richar
from the 15-day disabled list to the 60-day list on Wednesday. The Reds are scheduled to play 17 consecutive days starting
Friday, their longest stretch of the season. ... Cincinnati 3B
Scott Rolen
did not start Wednesday, but entered in a double switch in the seventh.
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