Reds Defeat Pirates 2-1 To Take Series

Apr 24, 2014; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Cincinnati Reds left fielder Chris Heisey (left) and center fielder Billy Hamilton (6) and right fielder Jay Bruce (right, center) and second baseman Brandon Phillips (right) celebrate after defeating the Pittsburgh Pirates at PNC Park. The Reds won 2-1. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports

Left fielder Ryan Ludwick hit a two-run double and left-hander Tony Cingrani pitched six solid innings as the streaking Cincinnati Reds edged the slumping Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Thursday.

Ludwick lined his double to center field with two outs in the sixth inning to put the Reds ahead as first baseman Joey Votto and third baseman Todd Frazier — who were both hit by pitches — scored.

Cingrani (2-2) allowed one run as he scattered six hits. He struck out seven and walked two.

Cincinnati won for the seventh time in nine games to reach .500 at 11-11.

Rookie right-hander Brandon Cumpton (0-1) took the loss despite giving up just two runs in seven innings after being recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis before the game to take the rotation spot of left-hander Wandy Rodriguez, who was placed on the disabled list Monday with left knee inflammation.

Cumpton held the Reds to four hits while walking one and striking out five but also hit three batters. He had a string of 20 consecutive scoreless innings in the major leagues, dating to last season, until Ludwick snapped it.

Ludwick had two of the Reds’ five hits.

Second baseman Neil Walker had two hits for the Pirates, who lost for the sixth time in their last seven games, scoring just 22 runs in that span.

The Pirates scored their lone run in the first inning when third baseman Pedro Alvarez singled in Walker, who had drawn a walk. Pittsburgh put runners in scoring position in two other innings but came away empty as they left eight runners on base.

Reds right-handers Logan Ondrusek, Sam LeCure and Jonathan Broxton pitched one scoreless inning each in relief of Cingrani. Broxton recorded his fourth save.

Great series win, the team is now 5-2 in their current, three cities, 10 game road trip. The last stop will be down in the “dirty dirty”, meaning a trip to take on the Atlanta Braves, three game series starts tomorrow night. First pitch is at 7:35pm.