Reds end Pirates’ win streak

Associated Press

pittsburgh

Jay Bruce had three hits, including a pair of doubles, Todd Frazier drove in two runs to cap an eventful day and the Cincinnati Reds cruised by the Pittsburgh Pirates 8-1 on Tuesday night.

Homer Bailey (4-3) gave up one run on four hits, walking one and striking out four while pitching his second career complete game.

Frazier doubled and tripled in his first two at-bats hours after saving a Pittsburgh restaurant-goer from choking on a piece of steak by giving him the Heimlich maneuver.

Charlie Morton (2-6) struggled with his trademark sinker and the Reds took advantage by knocking him around soggy PNC Park following a nearly 2-hour rain delay.

The Pirates were looking for their first five-game winning streak since September 2010 but faltered on a night Morton took another step backward.

Frazier stepped up not just for the Reds but for a fortunate customer at a local steakhouse earlier in the day. The third baseman joined teammate Ryan Ludwick for lunch when he noticed a man at a nearby table struggling with a piece of food.

Frazier ran to the table and squeezed the man twice trying to jar the piece of meat out of the man’s windpipe. The second squeeze worked, saving the man from a serious medical emergency. The customer thanked Frazier and later picked up the lunch tab for both players.

Back at work later that day, Frazier and the rest of his teammates made quick work of the Pirates and Morton.

The right-hander enjoyed a breakout season last year, posting a career-high 10 wins and dominating the Reds. Morton went 3-0 with a 0.93 ERA in four starts against Cincinnati a year ago, including a five-hit shutout.