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Solo swats send Reds to victory in opener

CINCINNATI -- The home runs hit by Joey Votto and Tucker Barnhart were the definition of wall-scrapers, but they still count the same. Their long-enough balls were what gave the Reds a 3-2 victory over the Pirates on Monday at Great American Ball Park.

Pittsburgh had taken a 2-1 lead with two runs in the top of the sixth inning against Reds starter Dan Straily. But there could have been more damage as Straily began the inning with the bases loaded and no outs before getting a sacrifice fly from Francisco Cervelli and a RBI groundout by Jung Ho Kang.