Bucs close at home with win

Tike Redman's RBI singles led the Pirates to a 4-2 victory over the Reds.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pirates finished the home portion of another dismal season with a victory.
Slumping Tike Redman hit a pair of run-scoring singles, and Pittsburgh beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-2 Sunday to stop a five-game losing streak.
"You have to win the last game at home," shortstop Jack Wilson said. "No matter what you're doing, you want to win that last game in front of your home crowd. Give them a nice sendoff and say, 'Go get them, Steelers!' "
Pittsburgh went 39-41 at PNC Park and has not had a winning record at home since going 45-36 in 1999. The Pirates, 69-86 overall, are assured of their 12th consecutive losing season.
Wilson helped save the win by starting a spectacular double play in the eighth. Leadoff hitter Anderson Machado walked and pinch hitter Jacob Cruz grounded a ball sharply up the middle. Wilson made a diving stop, then used his glove to flip the ball to second baseman Jose Castillo, who made an accurate throw to first as Machado was sliding into him.
Perfect timing
"You always want to get better offensively and that's always my goal," Wilson said. "But my number-one thing is still defense and doing the job for my pitcher. That play was just perfect timing. It was a perfect spot in the game, it helped us win and gave the fans something to cheer about. It was fun."
The crowd of 23,841 stood and cheered, but Wilson couldn't take a curtain call since he was already on the field.
"The perfect situation is that's the third out and you're walking off the field," he said. "You have another out to go so you can't have a lapse. You can only enjoy it until the next pitch comes."
Josh Fogg (10-10) won for the fourth time in six decisions and improve to 5-1 against the Reds, allowing one run and six hits in 52/3 innings. Jose Mesa pitched the ninth for his 41st save in 46 chances.
Fogg, usually slotted as the Pirates' No. 5 starter, has won at least 10 games in each of his three seasons with Pittsburgh.
"His stuff isn't the best on the staff but he has the right attitude and makeup," Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. "He's a bulldog."
Jose Acevedo (5-12) lost for the ninth time in 12 decisions, giving up three runs and nine hits in five innings. Cincinnati had won four straight, one shy of its longest road winning streak this year.
"He didn't pitch that badly," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "He kept us in there and gave us a chance."