Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Associated Press
CINCINNATI
Drew Stubbs had three hits Monday night, and right-hander Aaron Harang singled home a run and chugged around the bases to score another during Cincinnati’s five-run fourth inning, leading the Reds to a 7-5 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Harang (3-5) singled for a 3-2 lead, then barely scored from first on Orlando Cabrera’s double. He allowed four runs in 61/3 innings, including Ronny Cedeno’s two-run homer. Stubbs added an RBI double and a solo homer.
Left-hander Brian Burres (2-2) walked the first two batters in the fourth to start the pivotal rally, which turned on Harang’s two-out hit and his all-out dash.
Left-hander Arthur Rhodes pitched the eighth, extending his scoreless-innings streak to 161/3 innings. Francisco Cordero gave up a double in the ninth while earning his 15th save in 18 tries.
The Reds have won three of four and seven of their last 10, keeping them in a back-and-forth race with St. Louis for the top spot in the NL Central. The victory on Monday moved them into a first-place tie with the Cardinals at 26-19.
They’ve won all four games against the Pirates this month, including a three-game sweep May 10-12 in Pittsburgh. Harang kept it going with his first-to-home dash that made the big inning possible.
Cincinnati loaded the bases with the help of two walks, but Ryan Hanigan grounded into a double play that brought home a run and tied it at 2. Up came Harang, an .090 career hitter who had only one RBI this season. Burres fell behind in the count 3-0, got a strike, then left a pitch over the plate. Harang lined it to left for a 3-2 lead.