NL CENTRAL Ross breaks out of slump to lead Reds past Pirates

Sunday, August 20, 2006 Cincinnati maintained its lead in the wild card race. CINCINNATI (AP) — David Ross was happy to be back home. The Cincinnati catcher snapped a 0-for-13 slump by going 3-for-4 with a home run and career-high five RBIs as the Reds blew a six-run lead before pulling away for a 14-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates. Ross went hitless on Cincinnati's six-game road trip after beating the St. Louis Cardinals 8-7 with a two-run walk-off home run Aug. 9. He snapped out of it against Pittsburgh with a run-scoring single in a six-run first, his 15th homer of the season in the third and a three-run double in the Reds' seven-run seventh. "I didn't sniff a hit on the road trip," said Ross, who shares Cincinnati's catching duties with Jason LaRue and Javier Valentin. "It's tough when you don't play every day. When you lose your rhythm, it's hard to get back on track. I came back and studied a lot of film. You can do that at home." "David Ross has done a pretty good job all year," manager Jerry Narron said. "He struggled a little bit on the road, but he came through big for us tonight." Brandon Phillips also homered as the Reds sent 10 batters to the plate in two separate innings and maintained their one-game lead in the National League wild card race. They also cut St. Louis' lead in the Central Division to 21/2 games. The Cardinals lost to the Cubs 5-4 in 10 innings at Chicago Saturday afternoon. Tied score The Pirates overcame a six-run Cincinnati first inning to tie the score at 7 in the seventh inning. The Reds responded with seven runs in the bottom of the inning off relievers Salomon Torres (3-6) and Matt Capps. Ross had a three-run double and Phillips a two-run homer. Edwin Encarnacion and Rich Aurilia each hit two-run doubles in Cincinnati's six-run first inning. Ross and Phillips added run-scoring singles as Cincinnati set a season-high for first-inning runs. "For some reason, that first inning again," said Maholm, who has allowed 28 first-inning runs, 27 earned, in 25 starts this season, including 16 in his last eight starts. Maholm's first-inning ERA now is 9.72. "After I got through that, I wanted to go four or five innings and save the bullpen." PITTSBURGHCINCINNATI abrhbiabrhbi JBtsta cf5010Freel rf5230 JWlson ss5230Clayton ss5220 FSnchz 3b4230Grf Jr. cf3110 Bay lf3224Wthers p0000 Nady rf4112Vlentin ph1000 Capps p0000Grdado p0000 Reams p0000Crmier p0000 Palino c4011EEcrcn 3b4223 JHrndz 1b4010Dunn lf2200 Castillo 2b4010Aurilia 1b4112 Mholm p2000Ross c4335 Davis ph1000BPhllps 2b4133 STorres p0000Milton p2010 Burnitz rf1000Coffey p0000 RFrkln p0000 Hlndsw rf2000 Totals377137Totals36141613 Pittsburgh003030100—7 Cincinnati60100070x—14 E—Paulino (11). DP—Pittsburgh 2, Cincinnati 1. LOB—Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 1. 2B—FSanchez (44), Nady (20), Castillo (21), Clayton (26), EEncarnacion 2 (26), Aurilia (20), Ross (11). HR—Bay (26), Ross (15), BPhillips (12). SB—Freel (28), Clayton (13). CS—Nady (2), Freel (9). SF—Bay. IPHRERBBSO Pittsburgh Maholm5107717 STorres L,3-61 1-345121 Capps2-322200 Reames100000 Cincinnati Milton496613 Coffey200002 RFranklin W,3-6121100 Weathers100002 Guardado1-310001 Cormier2-310000 Milton pitched to 3 batters in the 5th. WP—Capps. PB—Paulino. Umpires—Home, Mike Winters; First, Paul Emmel; Second, Bruce Froemming; Third, Brian Runge. T—2:55. A—34,245.