Pirates fading down stretch

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

The little things added up to a disappointing sixth straight loss for Pittsburgh, a 2-1 loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh starter A.J. Burnett suffered his first loss in four decisions against the Reds this season. Burnett (15-7), 0-3 in five starts since beating Los Angeles on Aug. 16, allowed five hits and two runs with two walks and eight strikeouts.

The Reds cashed in a bit of good fortune to take a 1-0 lead in the third inning. Catcher Ryan Hanigan led off with a lined single to center field and moved to second one out later on Brandon Phillips’ bouncer up the middle. Both runners moved up on Burnett’s wild pitch, and Hanigan scored on Wilson Valdez’s chopper to second.

“The wild pitch set up that first run,” said Burnett. “It was a well-pitched game on Homer [Bailey’s] side. You have to tip your hat to him. I was trying to keep it close. I tried to break that pitch off. It stands out more in a close game.”

The Pirates tied it in the fourth on singles by Andrew McCutchen, Garrett Jones and Gaby Sanchez to lead off the inning before leaving the bases loaded when Bailey struck out Burnett.

They missed another scoring opportunity in the sixth when Alex Presley tripled down the right-field line with one out and was caught stealing home when Clint Barmes couldn’t get his bat on a suicide squeeze attempt.

“We were trying to scratch out a run,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “They pitched out. It was a good call by them.”

The Pirates missed Pedro Alvarez, who was scratched with discomfort in his wrist. He was unavailable as a pinch hitter in the ninth.