Freese’s single lifts Pirates against Reds

Associated Press

CINCINNATI

The Pittsburgh Pirates did the little things to come up with a big win.

Jordy Mercer had an RBI single with the bases loaded in the 10th inning, David Freese added a two-run single, and the Pirates overcame some shaky defense to preserve their chances in the NL wild-card race with a 9-7 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

The Pirates loaded the bases against Tony Cingrani (2-5) with a walk and two infield hits, including catcher Francisco Cervelli beating out a bunt to load the bases before Mercer snapped a 6-6 tie with a single to left. Freese singled to center two batters later.

“With (Cingrani), you have to be patient,” Cervelli said. “He throws the ball down and wants you to hit ground balls. We tried to do the little things. In that situation, you trust the guy behind you. The way I’ve been swinging, I had to do it perfectly.”

“You can’t walk the leadoff man,” Reds manager Bryan Price. “It’s basically a nothing-nothing game. You have to come in throwing strikes. Tony has had a terrific year, but that’s been his nemesis lately.”

The Pirates have scored a combined 11 runs in their last at bats over their last two games. They scored eight in the ninth inning on Thursday against Philadelphia.

“They continue to play,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s it. They’re looking to continue games and finish games. That game was fun. Different things happened. Different opportunities presented themselves to different people.”

Gregory Polanco and Jung Ho Kang homered to help the Pirates to their third win in four games after a four-game losing streak. Pittsburgh remained 5 1/2 games behind the New York Mets for the NL’s second wild card.

Antonio Bastardo (3-0) pitched a perfect ninth and Tony Watson allowed Steve Selsky’s first career home run before finishing up for his 13th save.

The teams combined to use 15 pitchers.

Polanco followed Andrew McCutchen’s RBI double with a two-run homer to right in the first, his first since Aug. 29.

After Brandon Phillips’ RBI single in the first, Ramon Cabrera tied the game 3-3 with a two-run homer in the second. Robert Stephenson hit Kang with a pitch with the bases loaded to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead in the fifth.

Scott Schebler cashed in on two Pittsburgh fielding gaffes with a tie-breaking triple to give the Reds a 6-4 lead in the fifth.

Joey Votto singled with one out in the sixth for a 4-4 tie. One out later, Brandon Phillips reached when pitcher Ryan Vogelsong dropped first baseman John Jaso’s throw for an error. Schebler followed with a line drive to center field that McCutchen uncharacteristically misplayed, allowing it to sail past him and roll to the wall for a two-run triple.

Kang tied the game with a two-run homer in the seventh off Blake Wood.