GAME THREAD: GAME THREAD: NL: PITTSBURGH (22-27) at CINCINNATI (18-33)

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS CINCINNATI (3) - MID 8TH - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bautista 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265
C Duffy cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
F Sanchez 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A LaRoche 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .207
J Bay lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .304
X Nady rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .290
J Wilson ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .254
H Cota c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
I Snell p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .158
a-R Doumit ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330

Totals 27 0 5 0 0 1 9

a-popped out to third for I Snell in the 8th.

BATTING: 3B - J Bay (2, K Lohse). S - I Snell. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Bautista 2. GIDP - C Duffy. Team LOB - 5.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Freel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
K Griffey Jr rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .291
S Hatteberg 1b 2 0 0 0 1 0 1 .306
B Phillips 2b 3 0 0 0 0 1 1 .281
A Dunn lf 2 1 1 0 1 1 0 .264
E Encarnacion 3b 3 0 1 1 0 0 2 .236
A Gonzalez ss 2 1 1 0 0 1 1 .270
N Hopper rf-cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .244
D Ross c 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 .218
K Lohse p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235

Totals 25 3 5 3 2 6 7

BATTING: 2B - A Dunn (8, I Snell). HR - D Ross (6, 5th inning off I Snell 1 on,
1 Out). RBI - D Ross 2 (17), E Encarnacion (20). Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - E Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 4.

BASERUNNING: CS - A Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by I Snell/H Cota).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Hatteberg-D Ross).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 000 000 00 -- 0
CINCINNATI - 000 021 0 -- 3
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 7 5 3 3 2 6 1 3.14

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
K Lohse 8 5 0 0 0 1 0 4.66

WP - I Snell. HBP - H Cota (by K Lohse); A Gonzalez (by I Snell).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 109-67; K Lohse 91-65. Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell
6-8; K Lohse 13-10. Batters faced: I Snell 28; K Lohse 29.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: 74 degrees, overcast. Wind: 3 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - PITCHING CHANGE
PIT: DAMASO MARTE (0-0, 0.53) STARTING THE 8TH
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 3

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: S HATTEBERG (.306, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: D Marte relieved I Snell.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, NONE ON, 0 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 3 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: S Hatteberg (.306, 0-FOR-2)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - PITCHING CHANGE
PIT: JOSH SHARPLESS (NO RECORD) IN THE 8TH
SITUATION: NO RUNS IN, B PHILLIPS ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 3

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E ENCARNACION (.236, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - MID INNING UPDATE
PLAY: J Sharpless relieved D Marte.
SITUATION: 0 RUNS IN, B PHILLIPS ON THIRD, 2 OUTS
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 3 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: E Encarnacion (.236, 1-FOR-3, RBI)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL AT CINCINNATI - SCORING UPDATE
DOUBLE BY EDWIN ENCARNACION SCORED BRANDON PHILLIPS.
SITUATION: 1 RUN IN, E ENCARNACION ON SECOND, 2 OUT
CURRENT SCORE: PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 4 BOTTOM, 8TH

DUE UP FOR CINCINNATI: A GONZALEZ (.270, 1-FOR-2, HBP)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL PITTSBURGH AT CINCINNATI
NOTE: CINCINNATI CENTER FIELDER RYAN FREEL LEFT THE GAME IN
THE TOP OF THE THIRD INNING WITH A HEAD AND NECK CONTUSION.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 5 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 4 7 0 (TOP 9)

CURRENT PITCHERS: PIT - JOSH SHARPLESS
CIN - KYLE LOHSE

DUE UP FOR PITTSBURGH: F SANCHEZ (.283, 0-FOR-3)
A LAROCHE (.207, 1-FOR-3)
J BAY (.304, 1-FOR-3)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS CINCINNATI (4) - END 8TH - IN PROGRESS

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bautista 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265
C Duffy cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
F Sanchez 2b 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .283
A LaRoche 1b 3 0 1 0 0 0 0 .207
J Bay lf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .304
X Nady rf 3 0 1 0 0 0 1 .290
J Wilson ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .254
H Cota c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
I Snell p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .158
a-R Doumit ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Sharpless p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 27 0 5 0 0 1 9

a-popped out to third for I Snell in the 8th.

BATTING: 3B - J Bay (2, K Lohse). S - I Snell. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Bautista 2. GIDP - C Duffy. Team LOB - 5.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Freel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
K Griffey Jr rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .291
S Hatteberg 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .303
B Phillips 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .284
A Dunn lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .263
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 .242
A Gonzalez ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .268
N Hopper rf-cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .244
D Ross c 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 .218
K Lohse p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235

Totals 30 4 7 4 2 6 8

BATTING: 2B - A Dunn (8, I Snell); B Phillips (11, D Marte); E Encarnacion (3,
J Sharpless). HR - D Ross (6, 5th inning off I Snell 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Ross
2 (17), E Encarnacion 2 (21). 2-out RBI - E Encarnacion. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 1, E Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - A Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by I Snell/H Cota).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Hatteberg-D Ross).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 000 000 00 -- 0
CINCINNATI - 000 021 01 -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell 7 5 3 3 2 6 1 3.14
D Marte 2/3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.02
J Sharpless 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
K Lohse 8 5 0 0 0 1 0 4.66

WP - I Snell. HBP - H Cota (by K Lohse); A Gonzalez (by I Snell).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 109-67; D Marte 5-4; J Sharpless 5-4; K Lohse 91-65.
Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 6-8; D Marte 1-1; J Sharpless 0-1; K Lohse
13-10. Batters faced: I Snell 28; D Marte 3; J Sharpless 2; K Lohse 29.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

Weather: 74 degrees, overcast. Wind: 3 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 x 4 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PIT - IAN SNELL, DAMASO MARTE (8TH), JOSH SHARPLESS (8TH) AND
HUMBERTO COTA

CIN - KYLE LOHSE AND DAVID ROSS

HOME RUNS: PIT - NONE

CIN - DAVID ROSS (6) OFF IAN SNELL IN THE 5TH, 1 ON</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">NL FINAL
1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 R H E
- - - - - - - - - - - -
PITTSBURGH 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 6 0
CINCINNATI 0 0 0 0 2 1 0 1 x 4 7 0 (FINAL)

BATTERIES: PIT - IAN SNELL, DAMASO MARTE (8TH), JOSH SHARPLESS (8TH) AND
HUMBERTO COTA

CIN - KYLE LOHSE AND DAVID ROSS


WP - KYLE LOHSE (2-6)
LP - IAN SNELL (4-4)
SAVE - NONE

HOME RUNS: PIT - NONE

CIN - DAVID ROSS (6) OFF IAN SNELL IN THE 5TH, 1 ON


TIME: 2:20 ATT: 17,905

PROBABLES: CIN - MATT BELISLE (4-4, 4.65)
HOU - JASON JENNINGS (0-1, 3.00)

PROBABLES: SDG - DAVID WELLS (2-2, 4.85)
PIT - TOM GORZELANNY (5-3, 2.51)</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS CINCINNATI (4) - FINAL

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bautista 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265
C Duffy cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
F Sanchez 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
A LaRoche 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .206
J Bay lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .302
X Nady rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .288
J Wilson ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .254
H Cota c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
I Snell p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .158
a-R Doumit ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Sharpless p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 31 0 6 0 0 2 12

a-popped out to third for I Snell in the 8th.

BATTING: 3B - J Bay (2, K Lohse). S - I Snell. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Bautista 2. GIDP - C Duffy. Team LOB - 6.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Freel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
K Griffey Jr rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .291
S Hatteberg 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .303
B Phillips 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .284
A Dunn lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .263
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 .242
A Gonzalez ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .268
N Hopper rf-cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .244
D Ross c 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 .218
K Lohse p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235

Totals 30 4 7 4 2 6 8

BATTING: 2B - A Dunn (8, I Snell); B Phillips (11, D Marte); E Encarnacion (3,
J Sharpless). HR - D Ross (6, 5th inning off I Snell 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Ross
2 (17), E Encarnacion 2 (21). 2-out RBI - E Encarnacion. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 1, E Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - A Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by I Snell/H Cota).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Hatteberg-D Ross).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 000 000 000 -- 0
CINCINNATI - 000 021 01x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell (L, 4-4) 7 5 3 3 2 6 1 3.14
D Marte 2/3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.02
J Sharpless 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
K Lohse (W, 2-6) 9 6 0 0 0 2 0 4.59

WP - I Snell. HBP - H Cota (by K Lohse); A Gonzalez (by I Snell).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 109-67; D Marte 5-4; J Sharpless 5-4; K Lohse 105-75.
Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 6-8; D Marte 1-1; J Sharpless 0-1; K Lohse
14-11. Batters faced: I Snell 28; D Marte 3; J Sharpless 2; K Lohse 33.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

T--2:20. Att--17,905.
Weather: 74 degrees, overcast. Wind: 3 mph, swirling.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">** CONFIRMED **
NL
PITTSBURGH 0
CINCINNATI 4 FINAL</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PITTSBURGH (0) AT CINCINNATI (4) - HOW THEY SCORED
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

CINCINNATI 5TH: A Gonzalez hit by pitch. N Hopper flied out to right.
D Ross homered to left, A Gonzalez scored. K Lohse grounded out to third.
K Griffey Jr singled to center. S Hatteberg flied out to center. (2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 2.

CINCINNATI 6TH: B Phillips flied out to center. A Dunn doubled to right.
A Dunn to third on wild pitch by I Snell. E Encarnacion singled to right
center, A Dunn scored. A Gonzalez struck out swinging. N Hopper struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 8TH: D Marte relieved I Snell. S Hatteberg flied out to center.
B Phillips doubled to left. A Dunn grounded out to second, B Phillips to
third. J Sharpless relieved D Marte. E Encarnacion doubled to left, B Phillips
scored. A Gonzalez fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 4.</div>

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
PITTSBURGH (0) AT CINCINNATI (4) - EVENT LOG
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Pittsburgh Starting Lineups -- J Bautista 3B, C Duffy CF, F Sanchez 2B,
A LaRoche 1B, J Bay LF, X Nady RF, J Wilson SS, H Cota C, I Snell RHP.

Cincinnati Starting Lineups -- R Freel CF, S Hatteberg 1B, B Phillips 2B,
A Dunn LF, E Encarnacion 3B, A Gonzalez SS, N Hopper RF, D Ross C, K Lohse RHP.

Umpires -- Hunter Wendelstedt (HP), Randy Marsh (1B), Adam Dowdy (2B),
Sam Holbrook (3B).

Gametime Weather: 74 degrees, Overcast, wind swirling at 3 mph.


PITTSBURGH 1ST: J Bautista grounded out to third. C Duffy grounded out
to second. F Sanchez flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 1ST: R Freel flied out to center. S Hatteberg flied out
to center. B Phillips flied out to right. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

PITTSBURGH 2ND: A LaRoche lined out to pitcher. J Bay tripled to deep
center. X Nady grounded into fielder's choice to third, J Bay out at home.
J Wilson grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0,
CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 2ND: A Dunn struck out swinging. E Encarnacion grounded out to
second. A Gonzalez reached on infield single to third. A Gonzalez caught
stealing second, catcher to second.(0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0,
CINCINNATI 0.

PITTSBURGH 3RD: H Cota flied out to center. K Griffey Jr in right field.
N Hopper in center field. I Snell struck out looking. J Bautista grounded out
to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 3RD: N Hopper grounded out to second. D Ross struck out
swinging. K Lohse grounded out to third. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

PITTSBURGH 4TH: C Duffy lined out to center. F Sanchez flied out to
center. A LaRoche reached on bunt single to third. J Bay flied out to
center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 4TH: K Griffey Jr struck out swinging. S Hatteberg walked.
B Phillips struck out swinging. A Dunn walked, S Hatteberg to second.
E Encarnacion popped out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

PITTSBURGH 5TH: X Nady singled to left. J Wilson flied out to right.
H Cota hit by pitch, X Nady to second. I Snell sacrificed to pitcher, X Nady
to third, H Cota to second. J Bautista lined out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 1 Hit,
0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 0.

CINCINNATI 5TH: A Gonzalez hit by pitch. N Hopper flied out to right.
D Ross homered to left, A Gonzalez scored. K Lohse grounded out to third.
K Griffey Jr singled to center. S Hatteberg flied out to center. (2 Runs,
2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 2.

PITTSBURGH 6TH: C Duffy grounded out to first. F Sanchez fouled out to
catcher. A LaRoche grounded out to second. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 2.

CINCINNATI 6TH: B Phillips flied out to center. A Dunn doubled to right.
A Dunn to third on wild pitch by I Snell. E Encarnacion singled to right
center, A Dunn scored. A Gonzalez struck out swinging. N Hopper struck out
swinging. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 3.

PITTSBURGH 7TH: J Bay grounded out to third. X Nady grounded out to third.
J Wilson grounded out to shortstop. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0,
CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 7TH: D Ross flied out to center. K Lohse grounded out to third.
K Griffey Jr grounded out to first. (0 Runs, 0 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0,
CINCINNATI 3.

PITTSBURGH 8TH: H Cota singled to right. R Doumit hit for I Snell.
R Doumit popped out to third. J Bautista singled to right, H Cota to third.
C Duffy grounded into double play, first to catcher, H Cota out at home.
(0 Runs, 2 Hits, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 3.

CINCINNATI 8TH: D Marte relieved I Snell. S Hatteberg flied out to center.
B Phillips doubled to left. A Dunn grounded out to second, B Phillips to
third. J Sharpless relieved D Marte. E Encarnacion doubled to left, B Phillips
scored. A Gonzalez fouled out to first. (1 Run, 2 Hits, 0 Errors)
PITTSBURGH 0, CINCINNATI 4.

PITTSBURGH 9TH: F Sanchez singled to left center. A LaRoche struck out
looking. J Bay grounded into fielder's choice to third, F Sanchez out at
second. X Nady flied out to center. (0 Runs, 1 Hit, 0 Errors) PITTSBURGH 0,
CINCINNATI 4.</div>

 

Lohse hurls complete game as struggling Reds top Pirates

<h3>CINCINNATI 4, PITTSBURGH 0</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Kyle Lohse has been one of the mainculprits for the struggling Cincinnati Reds. But on Monday,both Lohse and the Reds turned it around in a big way.

Lohse hurled a six-hitter and David Ross smacked a two-run homer asthe Reds snapped a season-high six-game skid with a 4-0 victoryover the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday afternoon.

The game was marred by a collision between Reds outfielders RyanFreel and Norris Hopper, which sent Freel off the field on anambulance after he slammed his head on the ground. Thethird-year outfielder was diagnosed with a contusion on his headand neck after tests at Good Samaritan Hospital.

But it was a much better day for the rest of the Reds (19-33),who own the league's worst record and had dropped 20 of their last 25contests entering the game. With the win, Cincinnati avoided afour-game sweep.

A struggling righthander, Lohse (2-6) had allowed five or moreruns in four of his past six starts before this outing. But theveteran hurler had his good stuff on Monday, snapping acareer-high six-game losing streak.

Lohse was not overpowering, using just 105 pitches to hurl hisfirst complete game since 2004 and fourth career shutout. Heforced hitters to put the ball in play, allowing just six hitsand did not walk a batter - while striking out two.

With runners on first and third with one out in the eighth, hegot some help from his defense. Pirates outfielder Chris Duffyripped a grounder at first baseman Scott Hatteberg, who knockedit down, stepped on first and gunned down Humberto Cota at theplate to end the threat.

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Reds gave Lohse all thesupport he would need. Alex Gonzalez was issued a lead-off walk,and after Hopper flied out to right, Ross blasted a prodigioushomer to left field off Pirates starter Ian Snell (4-4) to makeit 2-0.

Snell allowed three runs and five hits in seven frames, whilewalking two and striking out six for Pittsburgh, which missedsweeping a four-game set in Cincinnati for the first time sinceJuly 11-14, 1991.

Pittsburgh has not won more than three straight vs. the Redssince winning five in a row during the 2004 campaign.

 

NL: PITTSBURGH at CINCINNATI

<div class="pre">PITTSBURGH (0) VS CINCINNATI (4) - FINAL

PITTSBURGH ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
J Bautista 3b 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .265
C Duffy cf 4 0 0 0 0 0 2 .236
F Sanchez 2b 4 0 1 0 0 0 0 .287
A LaRoche 1b 4 0 1 0 0 1 1 .206
J Bay lf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .302
X Nady rf 4 0 1 0 0 0 2 .288
J Wilson ss 3 0 0 0 0 0 2 .254
H Cota c 2 0 1 0 0 0 0 .286
I Snell p 1 0 0 0 0 1 0 .158
a-R Doumit ph 1 0 0 0 0 0 1 .330
D Marte p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000
J Sharpless p 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 .000

Totals 31 0 6 0 0 2 12

a-popped out to third for I Snell in the 8th.

BATTING: 3B - J Bay (2, K Lohse). S - I Snell. Runners left in scoring
position, 2 out - J Bautista 2. Team LOB - 6.


CINCINNATI ab r h rbi bb so lob avg
R Freel cf 1 0 0 0 0 0 0 .251
K Griffey Jr rf 3 0 1 0 0 1 0 .291
S Hatteberg 1b 3 0 0 0 1 0 1 .303
B Phillips 2b 4 1 1 0 0 1 1 .284
A Dunn lf 3 1 1 0 1 1 0 .263
E Encarnacion 3b 4 0 2 2 0 0 2 .242
A Gonzalez ss 3 1 1 0 0 1 2 .268
N Hopper rf-cf 3 0 0 0 0 1 2 .244
D Ross c 3 1 1 2 0 1 0 .218
K Lohse p 3 0 0 0 0 0 0 .235

Totals 30 4 7 4 2 6 8

BATTING: 2B - A Dunn (8, I Snell); B Phillips (11, D Marte); E Encarnacion (3,
J Sharpless). HR - D Ross (6, 5th inning off I Snell 1 on, 1 Out). RBI - D Ross
2 (17), E Encarnacion 2 (21). 2-out RBI - E Encarnacion. Runners left in
scoring position, 2 out - A Gonzalez 1, E Encarnacion 1. Team LOB - 5.

BASERUNNING: CS - A Gonzalez (1, 2nd base by I Snell/H Cota).

FIELDING: DP: 1 (S Hatteberg-D Ross).


----------------------------------------------------
PITTSBURGH - 000 000 000 -- 0
CINCINNATI - 000 021 01x -- 4
----------------------------------------------------

PITTSBURGH ip h r er bb so hr era
I Snell (L, 4-4) 7 5 3 3 2 6 1 3.14
D Marte 2/3 1 1 1 0 0 0 1.02
J Sharpless 1/3 1 0 0 0 0 0 0.00

CINCINNATI ip h r er bb so hr era
K Lohse (W, 2-6) 9 6 0 0 0 2 0 4.59

WP - I Snell. HBP - H Cota (by K Lohse); A Gonzalez (by I Snell).
Pitches-strikes: I Snell 109-67; D Marte 5-4; J Sharpless 5-4; K Lohse 105-75.
Ground balls-fly balls: I Snell 6-8; D Marte 1-1; J Sharpless 0-1; K Lohse
13-11. Batters faced: I Snell 28; D Marte 3; J Sharpless 2; K Lohse 33.

UMPIRES: HP--Hunter Wendelstedt. 1B--Randy Marsh. 2B--Adam Dowdy. 3B--Sam
Holbrook.

T--2:20. Att--17,905.
Weather: 74 degrees, overcast. Wind: 3 mph, swirling.</div>

 

Lohse hurls complete game as struggling Reds top Pirates

<h3>CINCINNATI 4, PITTSBURGH 0</h3>CINCINNATI (Ticker) -- Kyle Lohse has been one of the mainculprits for the struggling Cincinnati Reds. But on Monday,both Lohse and the Reds turned it around in a big way.

Lohse hurled a six-hitter and David Ross smacked a two-run homeras the Reds snapped a season-high six-game skid with a 4-0victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday afternoon.

The game was marred by a collision between Reds outfielders RyanFreel and Norris Hopper, which sent Freel off the field in anambulance after he slammed his head on the ground. Thethird-year outfielder was diagnosed with a contusion on his headand neck after tests at Good Samaritan Hospital.

"I felt something hit my elbow hard," Hopper said. "When Iwatched the replay I saw it was his head. He hit the groundhard but he was limp. I went over and he was unconscious. I<div class="pre">yelled four times in his ear, 'Freel, Freel.' It scared me.</div>Slowly he opened his eyes. I told him to stay down, they'recoming."

"That was scary. Thankfully, reports are good," Reds managerJerry Narron said. "Hopefully, we'll see him in a couple days."

It was a much better day for the rest of the Reds (19-33), whoown the league's worst record and had dropped 20 of their last25 contests entering the game. With the win, Cincinnati avoideda four-game sweep.

A struggling righthander, Lohse (2-6) had allowed five or moreruns in four of his past six starts before this outing. But theveteran hurler had his good stuff on Monday, snapping acareer-high six-game losing streak.

"I don't even count the last couple starts. My head wasn't init," Lohse said. "I'm trying to get my strength back afterlosing eight or nine pounds because I was sick. I was tootentative the last couple games. I tried to make the perfectpitch and either didn't get the call or get batters to swing atthem."

Lohse was not overpowering, using just 105 pitches to hurl hisfirst complete game since 2004 and fourth career shutout. Heforced hitters to put the ball in play, allowing just six hitsand did not walk a batter - while striking out two.

"The defense really picked me up today," Lohse said. "When theydo that, it gives you confidence to pound it in there. It'srare when you have just two strikeouts but have a good game."

With runners on first and third with one out in the eighth, hegot some help from his defense. Pirates outfielder Chris Duffyripped a grounder at first baseman Scott Hatteberg, who knockedit down, stepped on first and gunned down Humberto Cota at theplate to end the threat.

"You got to give them credit," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said."Lohse pitched ahead in the count all day and had some helpespecially from the left side of the infield. Duffy hit theball hard right at Hatteberg or we'd have had a run if it wasanother inch or two over. We hit into tough luck, but we didn'tlose today, they beat us."

In the bottom of the fifth inning, the Reds gave Lohse all thesupport he would need. Alex Gonzalez was issued a leadoff walk,and after Hopper flied out to right, Ross blasted a prodigioushomer to left field off Pirates starter Ian Snell (4-4) to makeit 2-0.

"Do you want to talk about Lohse, Edwin's (Encarnacion's) playsor if you have enough paper left, my fence scraper?" Ross asked."We needed a big outing like that with the way our bullpen hasstruggled."

Snell allowed three runs and five hits in seven frames, whilewalking two and striking out six for Pittsburgh, which missedsweeping a four-game set in Cincinnati for the first time sinceJuly 11-14, 1991.

"Snell was very good. The only pitch he'd like to have back wasthe 2-2 pitch to Ross," Tracy said. "He tried to bounce it butleft it up just enough."

"It was a good pitch. I hate to make excuses but this park is ajoke," Snell said. "It would have never gone out in(Pittsburgh's) PNC (Park), not even close. Give him credit,though. He hit it off his shoestrings."

Pittsburgh has not won more than three straight vs. the Redssince winning five in a row during the 2004 campaign.