PITTSBURGH, Aug. 20 (UPI) -- Ryan Hanigan's two-run single finished off a three-run ninth inning Friday that boosted the Cincinnati Reds to a wild 11-8 victory over Pittsburgh.
The Reds never trailed, but twice saw the Pirates come back to tie it. Both sides had 14 hits in a meeting of teams that have fallen out of the National League Central race during the second half of the season.
Joey Votto's two-run homer gave the Reds an early 2-0 lead and, after the Pirates deadlocked the game, Cincinnati regained the advantage with a four-run fifth. Hanigan hit a solo homer in that inning and Brandon Phillips launched a three-run shot.
That gave Cincinnati a 6-2 lead but the Pirates scored in five straight innings to forge an 8-8 tie heading into the ninth.
Votto opened the inning with a walk off Joel Harahan (0-2) and went to third on a one-out single by Dave Sappelt. Drew Stubbs then hit a grounder to second that Ryan Doumit bobbled for an error, a miscue that resulted in Votto scoring and runners reaching second and third. Hanigan followed with his two-run single to center.
The Reds used eight pitchers in the game and the seventh, Travis Wood (6-5), got the victory by recording the final two outs in the eighth. Francisco Cordero shut down the Pirates on nine pitches in the ninth for his 25th save.
