Latos, Reds blank Bucs in big showdown

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Clint Hurdle was disappointed with the loss. He was excited, at least, that his young Pirates got to play in a big game.

Mat Latos pitched shutout ball into the eighth inning and hit a two-run homer Friday night as the NL Central-leading Cincinnati Reds opened a three-game series against their closest pursuers with a 3-0 win over Pittsburgh.

Chris Heisey hustled for an inside-the-park home run and Aroldis Chapman closed out the win that gave the Reds a 41/2-game lead over the Pirates.

“They got a bounce off the wall and a pitcher hit a fastball out. That’s not supposed to happen,” Hurdle said.

“I’m not happy that we lost but this is a great experience for us. We played the hottest team in baseball at their home park in front of a sellout crowd. It is what you need to do to take the next step. The next step is to win.”

The Reds have won 14 of 15 and moved 24 games over .500 for the first time since 1999.

Latos (10-3) allowed four hits in 7 1-3 innings. Jonathan Broxton got a key double play to end the eighth and Chapman recorded his 24th save.

Latos hit his third career home run, connecting in the fifth against Wandy Rodriguez (7-10).

“I was surprised. I didn’t think he was going to swing,” Rodriguez said. “It was a big, big mistake.”

Latos was surprised that manager Dusty Baker let him swing.

“A lot of times Dusty will give us the take sign ... Then here comes the fastball down the middle and it looks like a beach ball and I can’t swing,” he said. “He got me the first time. Wandy has one of the best breaking balls in the league. What are you going to do with that when you’re down strike one?”

Zack Cozart added three hits for the Reds. The series was Cincinnati’s first against a team over .500 after five straight against clubs with losing records.

Latos allowed just one runner past second base, none after the first inning. He struck out five, walked three and improved to 4-0 in five career starts against the Pirates.

Broxton entered with runners on first and second. The newly acquired reliever got pinch hitter Gaby Sanchez — acquired from Miami right before Tuesday’s trading deadline — to ground into Pittsburgh’s third double play of the night.

Chapman struck out two in the ninth. He hit Andrew McCutchen with a pitch with two outs.

“I’m not going to talk about the ninth inning, so if that’s all you’re going to ask me, I don’t have anything to say,” McCutchen said.

Then the top hitter in the majors looked ahead.

“We have to come out tomorrow with the mindset that we’re going to win. They made more plays than us tonight. We had opportunities but they got double plays when they needed them,” he said.