CINCINNATI -- The Pirates loaded the bases in the fifth and seventh innings Friday night and came up empty-handed both times. Starling Marte assured that wouldn't be the case in the eighth inning, launching his first career grand slam to left field and sending the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Reds at Great American Ball Park.
Pittsburgh entered the eighth inning 0-for-9 with runners in scoring position. The Bucs had stranded 11 runners and made enough mistakes on defense to let the Reds to build up a three-run lead. Then Ross Ohlendorf hit John Jaso with a pitch and walked Andrew McCutchen.