NATIONAL LEAGUE D'Amico pitches Bucs past the Reds

He struck out eight for his first home win since July 6.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Jeff D'Amico got the help he needed to win at home for the first time in more than two months.
D'Amico (9-15) limited Cincinnati to four runs and five hits in 7 1/3 innings, and Matt Stairs homered as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Reds 8-5 on Wednesday night.
The right-hander struck out eight and walked three in his first home victory since July 6.
"I felt like I threw the ball very well and had good location," D'Amico said. "Everything was pretty consistent up until the eighth. I guess I just ran out of gas a little bit."
He left with runners on first and second in the eighth with the Pirates leading 7-2.
Reds' uprising
The Reds sent 10 batters to the plate in the eighth, scoring four runs against D'Amico and three relievers. Right-hander Julian Tavares ended the threat and preserved a 7-5 lead by striking out pinch-hitter Dernell Stenson with the bases loaded.
Tavares got four outs for his ninth save in 12 chances as the Pirates (70-81) staved off clinching their 11th consecutive losing season. The Reds lead the majors with 29 wins in their last at-bat, 15 extra-inning wins and 13 walk-off victories.
They almost had another comeback, but Tavares got Sean Casey to bounce into a game-ending double play.
Stairs hit a 3-2 pitch from reliever Juan Cerros deep over the right-field stands for his 19th homer in the sixth, putting Pittsburgh up 7-1. It was the 199th homer allowed by the Reds this season, breaking a franchise record set two years ago.
"I just happened to get on top of one and hit it pretty good," Stairs said.
Tike Redman, 3-for-4 with an RBI, led off the first with a walk and scored on Abraham Nunez's RBI triple. Nunez scored on second baseman D'Angelo Jimenez's throwing error on the play.
Etherton taken out
Reds starter Seth Etherton (2-4) was removed after the first inning because of stiffness and soreness on the outside of his right forearm. He gave up two hits and two runs, hit a batter and walked one.
Dan Serafini came on and gave up three runs and eight hits in 4 2/3 innings.
The Pirates made it 3-0 in the fourth, on Redman's RBI single. An inning later, Jack Wilson singled home Stairs to make it 4-0.
Jason Bay hit the Pirates' third triple of the game in the sixth to give the Pirates a 5-0 lead. The Pirates hadn't hit three triples in a game since July 7, 1996, against St. Louis.
The Reds spoiled D'Amico's shutout bid with two outs in the sixth on Casey's RBI triple. Right fielder Craig Wilson misplayed Casey's sinking liner, and the ball bounced to the wall. D'Amico struck out Russell Branyan to avoid further damage.