Votto, Barnhart lead Reds over Pirates
CINCINNATI -- Joey Votto had four hits including a home run and Tucker Barnhart tied a career high with four RBIs to help the Cincinnati Reds avoid a four-game sweep with a 7-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.
The loss snapped a four-game winning streak for Pittsburgh, which last swept a four-game series in Cincinnati in 1991. The Pirates swept a doubleheader from the Reds on Saturday.
Pirates shortstop Sean Rodriquez hit his 17th home run of the season in the loss.
Reds right-hander Dan Straily, a late acquisition during spring training who since became one of the bright spots of the season, earned his team-leading 13th victory.
Straily (13-8) gave up three runs on five hits in six innings.
Pirates starter Ivan Nova (12-7) had a short outing on Sunday, lasting just three innings and giving up five runs, although three of them were earned. He allowed nine hits, walked none and struck out two over 56 pitches.
Pirates second baseman Pedro Florimon tripled off Jose Peraza's glove in center field, driving in two runs to put the Pirates ahead 2-0 in the second.
It was Florimon's first triple of the season, and it just missed being his first home run since 2013. He went 2-for-4 with two RBIs on Sunday.
Barnhart doubled in a pair of runs in the bottom half of the second to tie the score 2-2.
In the third, the Reds went ahead 4-2 on back-to-back doubles by Votto and Brandon Phillips and an RBI single from Scott Schebler. A sacrifice fly by Barnhart made the score 5-2.
Straily got in on the action as well, with a hard single to right for his first career hit. The Reds right-hander had been 0-for-48 in his career to that point.
In the sixth inning, Rodriguez extended his hitting streak to eight games with a solo homer to reduce the Pirates' deficit to 5-3.
Barnhart's second sacrifice fly on the afternoon came in the seventh inning. It was the second time this season he'd matched his career high in RBIs.
NOTES: The Pirates have not set their rotation for the upcoming Milwaukee series. They are waiting to see how a few pitchers came through Saturday's doubleheader. ... Reds SS Zack Cozart's knee hasn't responded to treatment so he remains out of the lineup. Cozart hasn't played since Sept. 10. ... Reds manager Bryan Price said it's unlikely CF Billy Hamilton will return this season from a strained oblique. ... Reds RHP Homer Bailey tossed a bullpen Sunday after postponing his Friday session due to soreness. He hasn't pitched since Aug. 28.