(Sports Network) - Joey Votto hit the go-ahead RBI single in Cincinnati's three-run eighth inning, as the Reds averted a sweep with an 8-6 win over the Pirates in the finale of a three-game set. Votto also homered, and Jay Bruce added a solo home run for the Reds, who have won four of six. Reds starter Josh Fogg gave up five runs on four hits in three innings before leaving with a strained right groin suffered while running the bases. Nick Masset (2-0) picked up the win after allowing one run in two innings of relief.

Craig Hansen (1-6) gave up three runs in one-third of an inning to take the loss for the Pirates, who had won two straight after dropping 10 in a row. Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny surrendered three runs on seven hits in 3 2/3 innings and took a no-decision.

Chris Gomez and Nate McLouth each homered for Pittsburgh, which squandered an early 5-0 lead.

McLouth belted a fly ball deep into the seats in right-center, his 24th of the season, to push the Pirates on top 6-5 in the eighth, but the Pittsburgh bullpen couldn't hold the lead.

Hansen walked Wilkin Castillo, who later scored on a wild pitch by the right- hander. T.J. Beam gave up a single to Votto with the bases loaded and one out, scoring the go-ahead run, and Edwin Encarnacion's sacrifice fly added an insurance run.

Francisco Cordero worked around a walk and an error in the ninth to get his 27th save of the season.

Fogg ran into trouble in the first, as the Pirates loaded the bases with one out. Andy LaRoche's one-out groundout scored one run, and Steve Pearce singled in two more for a 3-0 Pirates lead.

Gomez's first homer of the season, a two-run shot in the second inning, extended the Pittsburgh lead to 5-0. Bruce answered with his 15th homer of the season, a solo blast to right with one out in the home half.

Fogg led off the third with a double and eventually scored on a sacrifice fly by Jeff Keppinger, but he suffered the groin injury in the process.

Ramon Ramirez came on in relief and held the Pirates off the board for three innings, while the Reds offense chipped away. Keppinger's RBI double in the fourth pulled the Red within two runs, and Votto's leadoff blast in the fifth, his 17th, cut the Bucs lead to 5-4.

Reds pinch-hitter Andy Phillips singled to lead off the sixth and eventually scored on a Brandon Phillips groundout to tie the game at 5-5.

Game Notes

The Pirates haven't swept a three-game series from the Reds in Cincinnati since the opening series of the 2003 season. The Pirates had won four straight and nine of their last 13 games at Great American Ball Park...The Reds outhit the Pirates 12-6, but left 10 runners on base.







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