Pirates shut down by Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

There was a time last season when the Pittsburgh Pirates had seemed to finally figure out Cincinnati’s Johnny Cueto.

Not so much anymore.

The right-hander continued his mastery of the Pirates on Friday night, allowing one run and seven hits in his first complete game of the season as the Reds pulled away for a 6-1 victory.

“Since he’s implemented this new little tuck ... we haven’t had much of anything against him here in a while,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said.

Then again, neither has anybody else.

Cueto improved his record to 4-0, striking out four without issuing a walk while dropping his ERA to 1.31.

Zack Cozart, Drew Stubbs and Jay Bruce all homered for Cincinnati, which has won four of five to move over .500 (13-12) for the first time since April 8.

“It’s definitely easier when you’ve got a guy like [Cueto] out there cruising through guys,” said Bruce, whose eight homers rank second in the National League. “It’s much more comforting.”

Nate McLouth, starting in center field in place of an ill Andrew McCutchen, had two hits for the Pirates, who failed in their bid to win consecutive games for the first time in three weeks.

Cueto has been lights out since the start of the 2011 season. His 2.15 ERA during that span is tops in baseball. He had little trouble with the Pirates, who have started to emerge from an April funk at the plate but couldn’t muster much while dealing with Cueto’s deceptive movement.

Pittsburgh, baseball’s lowest-scoring team, had broken out for 25 runs over its past four games. Cueto cooled off the Pirates with the kind of workmanlike performance that’s helped him anchor a somewhat shaky staff.

Pittsburgh’s best chance to get in it came in the bottom of the inning. McLouth and Neil Walker singled and Pedro Alvarez followed with a sacrifice fly.

Yet, as they have done much of the season, Pittsburgh got a little too greedy on the bases. Garrett Jones tried to score from first on a double by Clint Barmes but was easily cut down by Cozart’s relay throw.