PITTSBURGH -- One of the reasons the Reds have won six straight series is an improved bullpen. The relief corps stumbled on Friday night in Pittsburgh, though, when right-hander Ross Ohlendorf surrendered a walk-off home run to Sean Rodriguez in the ninth inning, giving the Pirates a 3-2 victory.
After posting ERAs north of 6.00 in April and May and a 4.77 ERA in June, the Reds' bullpen put together a 2.45 ERA in July -- the third lowest in the National League. Through 12 innings in August, the 'pen is at a 3.