MLB: Cincinnati 9, Pittsburgh 8

PITTSBURGH, May 18 (UPI) -- A two-run single by Ken Griffey Jr. in the seventh inning Thursday afternoon helped Cincinnati beat Pittsburgh, 9-8.

Jason LaRue had two runs, four hits -- including a home run -- and two RBI; Ryan Freel had one run, three hits and two RBI; Edwin Encarnacion had two runs and one hit; and Austin Kearns also homered for the Reds (24-17), who broke a five-game losing streak.

In relief, winning pitcher Matt Belisle rose to 2-0.

Jason Bay, who extended his hitting streak to 10 games, hit a grand slam home run; Jeromy Burnitz also homered; and both Jose Castillo and Freddy Sanchez had three hits for the Pirates (13-28), who have lost three of their last five contests.

The loser was reliever Matt Capps, who fell to 1-1.