Rolen sparks Reds past Bucs

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

Scott Rolen tripled and scored the go-ahead run in the eighth inning as the Cincinnati Reds won their fifth straight game, 5-4 over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

The Reds have won 15 of 16 and opened a 51/2-game lead over Pittsburgh in the NL Central.

It was 4-all when Rolen led off the eighth with a line drive off the right-center field wall, beating the relay with a headfirst slide into third base. Todd Frazier hit a chopper that was fielded by pitcher Jared Hughes (2-1) too late to get Rolen at the plate.

Rolen earlier had a two-run single.

Jonathan Broxton (1-0), acquired on Tuesday from Kansas City, pitched a scoreless eighth for the win. Aroldis Chapman worked the ninth for his 25th save.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was ejected in the top of the second after both benches were warned following the second Pirates batter to be hit by a pitch in two nights.

Mike Leake plunked Josh Harrison with two outs, no one on base and the Reds leading 2-1. Harrison and Leake briefly exchange words, prompting plate umpire Brian Gorman to issue the warnings against further trouble. Hurdle came out to discuss the decision and was ejected — for the third time this season — when the talk grew more heated.

On Friday night, Chapman hit Pirates star Andrew McCutchen with two outs in the ninth.

Michael McKenry led off Pittsburgh’s second with his 11th homer of the season. The Pirates tied the game in the third on Alex Presley’s leadoff triple and Neil Walker’s sacrifice fly.

Josh Harrison cut Cincinnati’ lead to 4-3 with his third homer of the season in the fourth.