Reds roll early against Pirates, 9-1

A six-run first inning sparked Cincinnati to its ninth straight win at home.

CINCINNATI (AP) — David Ross’ first homer put the finishing touch on a six-run first inning off left-hander Tom Gorzelanny, and the Cincinnati Reds extended their home winning streak to nine games Wednesday night with a 9-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Ross drove in four runs overall, and rookie Jay Bruce had a double and a pair of walks as the Reds extended their best home winning streak since 1980, when they won nine straight at Riverfront Stadium.

They were in control right from the start.

Gorzelanny (4-5) retired only two of the eight batters he faced during the shortest of his 54 starts in the majors. He gave up four hits and a pair of walks, and threw a wild pitch that set up a run.

Ross hit Gorzelanny’s 38th and final pitch into the seats in center for a two-run homer, his first since Sept. 2. The catcher missed most of spring training and the first three weeks of the season with a sore lower back.

Ross later singled home a run and drew a bases-loaded walk that made it 9-1 in the seventh. Joey Votto had three hits for the second straight game and scored three times.

The early lead was helpful for Bronson Arroyo (4-4), pitching on short rest to help Cincinnati’s rotation in disarray. Arroyo volunteered to go on three days of rest after the Reds used starters Aaron Harang and Edinson Volquez during an 18-inning loss in San Diego on Sunday.

Arroyo allowed one run and three hits in six innings, throwing 97 pitches. The right-hander is adept at coming back quickly, going 2-0 in five career starts on short rest with a 2.14 ERA.

Bruce, who had a sensational debut in the series opener, got a more reserved reaction from fans the second time around. He went 1-for-3 with a double, a pair of walks and his second stolen base.

The first-round draft pick went 3-for-3 with a pair of walks during a 9-6 win on Tuesday night, reaching base in all five plate appearances. Fans gave him a standing ovation and yelled “BRUUUCE!” each time he came through.

The 21-year-old outfielder got applause and walked in the first inning Wednesday, then flied out. His streak of reaching safely in his first six plate appearances was the longest since 1977, when Boston’s Ted Cox went 6-for-6 with a walk in his first seven times up in the majors.