Dickerson helps Reds surge past Pirates, 3-1

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Rookie Chris Dickerson had three hits and broke a sixth-inning tie with a two-out, RBI double to help the Cincinnati Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 3-1 Thursday night.

Javier Valentin homered for the second straight start for the Reds, who took two of three from the Pirates and won for the fourth time in 19 games.

With the score tied 1-all, Corey Patterson doubled to lead off the sixth against Ian Snell (4-10) and moved to third on a ground out. Andy Phillips, pinch-hitting for starter Johnny Cueto, hit a grounder to third and Patterson, who broke for home, was tagged out in a run-down.

Phillips advanced to second on the play and scored when Dickerson lined a double into the right-field corner.

Dickerson, who made his major-league debut on Tuesday, tripled in the ninth and scored on a squeeze play. Valentin, who is 10-for-19 with three home runs in his career against Snell, also walked twice.

Cueto (8-11), who was winless in his past six starts, allowed one run and four hits in five innings. The right-hander struck out seven.

Francisco Cordero, one of five Reds relievers, pitched a perfect ninth for his 23rd save and the 200th of his career.

The Reds left at least one runner on base in the first six innings and stranded nine for the game. Snell allowed two runs, six hits and five walks in six innings.

Andy LaRoche, playing with his brother Adam for the first time as teammates, had an RBI single in the first for Pittsburgh, but also grounded into a double play with the bases loaded and one out in the seventh.

Second baseman Freddy Sanchez had three hits. Shortstop Jack Wilson was back in the lineup after missing six starts with a sore right shoulder and had two hits.

The Pirates left 10 runners on base, including the bases loaded in the first and two on in the fourth and fifth.

Notes

Pittsburgh closer Matt Capps (right shoulder bursitis) pitched a scoreless inning and struck out two batters in a rehab assignment with Double-A Altoona. The right-hander will join Triple-A Indianapolis for his next rehab appearance. ... The Pirates have signed sixth-round pick Robbie Grossman, an outfielder out of Cypress-Fairbanks (Texas) High School. ... Thursday’s game, which featured a post-game concert by REO Speedwagon, drew a crowd of 35,439.