Cueto, Chapman handcuff Bucs

Associated Press

cincinnati

Facing Johnny Cueto twice in a week was too much for the Pirates.

Cueto allowed only six hits over 72/3 innings on Wednesday night, and Ryan Ludwick drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over Pittsburgh.

The Pirates always have trouble with Cueto, who improved to 12-4 against them in 18 career starts. A week earlier, Cueto gave up only five hits over seven innings while taking a 2-1 loss at PNC Park.

“This young man’s about as complete a package as there is in the league right now,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s got four weapons for pitches, he controls the running game as good as any right-handed pitcher in the league, he fields his position, he’s athletic, he can bunt, he went over 100 with his pitch count.

“It’s hard seeing him twice in a week when he’s on top of his game.”

The Reds won for the 12th time in 17 games and extended their NL Central lead over Pittsburgh to three games. The second-place Pirates lost for only the third time in their last 11 games.

Cueto (6-3) left with a 5-1 lead in the eighth. Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer off Logan Ondrusek two pitches later.

Aroldis Chapman retired the three batters he faced in the ninth for his sixth straight save, fanning Rod Barajas on a 101 mph pitch to end it. The left-hander hasn’t allowed an earned run in his 24 appearances this season, a club record.

“You got to see one of the reasons the Reds are in first place,” Hurdle said, referring to the Cueto-Chapman combination.

Ludwick’s double highlighted a four-run fourth inning off Brad Lincoln (3-1).