Reds 3, Pirates 1
PITTSBURGH -- Brandon Finnegan pitched a career-high six innings and the Cincinnati Reds ended a 13-game losing streak - their longest since 1945 - with a 3-1 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday.
The Pirates loss spoiled the final regular-season start of A.J. Burnett's 17-year career. The 38-year-old right-hander has stated his intent to retire after this season.
Finnegan (2-2) gave up one run and three hits in six innings. The right-hander walked two and struck out six.
Finnegan, acquired from Kansas City in the trade that sent ace right-hander Johnny Cueto to the Royals, allowed only one man to advance past first base and retired 15 of 17 batters after the first inning.
Burnett (9-7) pitched into the seventh but was removed after he issued a walk to center fielder Jason Bourgeois with two outs. The right-hander gave up three runs and five hits.
Burnett walked four and struck out nine as he moved past Christy Mathewson into 31st on the all-time strikeouts list with 2,513.
Left fielder Adam Duvall hit a solo home run in the seventh to insure Cincinnati's lead. He's hit five home runs in 59 at-bats since he was recalled from Triple-A Louisville on July 31.
Left-hander Aroldis Chapman entered with two outs in the eighth and pitched 1 1/3 innings to pick up his 33rd save.
Pittsburgh's magic number to clinch home-field in Wednesday's NL wild-card game remained at one. The Pirates (97-64) are one game ahead of the Chicago Cubs (96-65), who defeated Milwaukee 1-0 on Saturday.
Cincinnati scored twice in the first with some help from Burnett. Shortstop Eugenio Suarez singled with one out and advanced to third when Burnett’s pickoff attempt went wide of first base and scored on first baseman Joey Votto’s groundout.
Second baseman Brandon Phillips singled, stole second and scored on third baseman’s Todd Frazier’s double for a 2-0 Reds lead.
Second baseman Josh Harrison hit a leadoff triple and scored on right fielder Gregory Polanco’s groundout to pull the Pirates within 2-1 in the bottom half.
NOTES: Reds 2B Brandon Phillips started after he was removed from Friday's game when he fouled a ball off his shin. ... Pittsburgh officially named RHP Gerrit Cole the team's starter for Wednesday's wild card game. The 25-year-old right-hander posted a 19-8 record and a 2.60 ERA with 202 strikeouts in 208 innings pitched this season. ... Burnett caught right fielder Jay Bruce looking in the fourth inning for his 2,508th career strikeout to move past Mathewson.