Reds 6, Pirates 5 (10)
Joey Votto hit a tiebreaking homer in the 10th inning as visiting Cincinnati completed an improbable comeback win in the opener of a three-game series.
Devin Mesoraco delivered a tying two-run single to cap a three-run ninth off Pittsburgh closer Mark Melancon as the Reds pulled into a tie with the Pirates for the top wild card. J.J. Hoover (5-5) pitched a scoreless ninth before Aroldis Chapman notched his 38th save with a 1-2-3 10th.
Ryan Ludwick had three hits and an RBI single and Todd Frazier also homered for Cincinnati, which was one out from defeat when Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer's throwing error plated one run to set up Mesoraco's pivotal hit off third baseman Pedro Alvarez's glove. Votto's 24th homer made a loser of Kyle Farnsworth (3-1).
Jose Tabata and Neil Walker hit back-to-back homers for the Pirates, who wasted eight stellar innings of two-run ball from starter Francisco Liriano. Mercer had two hits and a run-scoring single and Tabata added a run-scoring single for Pittsburgh, which joined Cincinnati with a two-game deficit behind first-place St. Louis in the National League Central.
The Pirates countered Ludwick's run-scoring single when Tabata and Walker went back-to-back to lead off the first and added two more runs in the fourth on RBI singles by Russell Martin and Mercer. Frazier's solo shot in the fifth cut it to 4-2, but Tabata singled home Mercer in the seventh to restore the lead to three runs.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Liriano fanned Chris Heisey to lead off the eighth inning for the 1,000th strikeout of his career. It was also the 1,193rd of the year for Pittsburgh, setting a franchise record. ... Reds starter Mat Latos allowed four runs on eight hits and struck out a season-low one in six innings. ... The Pirates opened a game with consecutive homers for only the fourth time in franchise history. The last time they accomplished it also came against the Reds, on April 17, 2011.