The Pirates continue to keep their division title hopes alive with a 3-1 Reds on Friday night behind a strong showing by Vance Worley.
Worley pitched into the seventh scattering nine hits, but only allowing one run, a Kristopher Negron RBI single that followed Reds starter Mike Leake’s double in the fifth inning.
The Reds (74-86) were unable to do anything else as Worley, Jared Hughes, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon (Save #33) held Cincinnati to 1-for-5 with runners in scoring position on the night.
The Pirates (88-72) struck first in the fifth when Gaby Sanchez took a Leake first-pitch cutter over the wall in center for a 1-0 lead. They then scored the decisive run in the eighth. With a runner on first and two out, Travis Snider hit a liner to right that Jay Bruce misplayed allowing the ball to roll to the wall for a RBI double. Andrew McCutchen then followed with a RBI double to make it 3-1.
The win drops their magic number to host the Wild Card game to one and could tie them with the Cardinals for the N.L. Central lead depending on the outcome of the St. Louis – Arizona game.
Final Score: Pirates 3, Reds 1.
Starters Lines
Worley (ND): 6 1/3 IP, 9 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 4 K’s, 1 WP. 74 Pitches (56 Strikes).
Leake (ND): 3 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 8 K’s, 1 HR. 106 Pitches (59 Strikes).
The Pirates look to continue their strong finish tomorrow afternoon.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(LHP) Francisco Liriano (PIT): 7-10, 3.32 ERA
(RHP) Alfredo Simon (CIN): 15-10, 3.34 ERA
First pitch is set for 1:05.
(Photo Credit: Dilip Vishwanat/Getty Images)
