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It’s been seven years since Pittsburgh won as many as 70 games in a season. The Pirates waited that long; what was one more half-inning?

Ryan Ludwick’s single in the bottom of the ninth drove in the winning run and the Pirates came back from a blown save in the top of the inning for a 4-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.

Ludwick’s fly ball to deep center field fell for a single and scored pinch-runner Chase d’Arnaud from second after pinch-hitter Jason Jaramillo had doubled to left with one out.

“It felt like it was what I was supposed to do,” said Ludwick, a trade-deadline acquisition who was hitting .231 in 34 games with the Pirates. “It’s been a while since I hit a walk-off, but it felt good.”

Garrett Jones homered for the first time in more than a month for Pittsburgh (70-87), which reached 70 wins for the first time since 2004.

The Pirates had been a strike away from that elusive 70th victory, but closer Joel Hanrahan hit Todd Frazier in the hand with a 98 mph fastball, the eighth pitch of a dramatic at-bat with the bases loaded and two outs in the top of the ninth.

The blown save was Hanrahan’s fourth in 43 opportunities.

“It was one of those days I didn’t have my good stuff, so you try to find a way to make it work,” Hanrahan said. “It’s a full count there, and I think I hit my first guy of the year there. Baseball’s a funny game.”

Paul Janish had two hits and an RBI and Joey Votto had his 99th RBI for the Reds.

Ryan Doumit had two hits and an RBI and Andrew McCutchen added two hits for Pittsburgh, which won for the second in its past seven games overall and second time in its past seven home games.

Pirates starter Jeff Locke was on a pitch limit and was lifted after 4 2-3 innings when his 80th pitch became an RBI double by Votto.

That left two men on, but Daniel Moskos got Jay Bruce to strike out swinging to end the inning.

“We hit that young man over there pretty hard,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said about Locke. “We flirted with the fence probably five or six times.

“We had plenty of opportunities, but we didn’t get the hit when we needed it.”

Making his third career start, Locke was charged with one run, six hits and two walks. He lasted only three innings in his most recent start.

“It’s a process,” the 23-year-old said. “I’m definitely taking the mound now, the nerves are gone, the composure’s there. I’m still leaving some pitches up and falling behind some hitters.”

Janish had an RBI single off Chris Leroux in the sixth, but Chris Resop, Tony Watson and Jason Grilli combined for two scoreless innings.

Pinch-hitter Chris Heisey started Cincinnati’s ninth with an infield single and Brandon Phillips followed with a single. After a fielder’s choice and a strikeout, Phillips and Drew Stubbs pulled off a double steal. Bruce was intentionally walked and Frazier was hit by the pitch.

“They didn’t really hit the ball too hard that inning,” Jones said. “They had some freak things happen, but we were able to help Joel out. Ryan came up with the big hit.”

Jones homered for the first time since Aug. 21 after Doumit led off the second with an infield single. Jones’ homer to right-center off Edinson Volquez was his 16th and traveled an estimated 458 feet.

Doumit made it 3-0 in the second with a run-scoring single.

Making his third start since being recalled after his second demotion to the minors this season, Volquez, Cincinnati’s opening day starter, allowed three runs, six hits and two walks while striking out five in five innings.

“I felt good. We didn’t win, but that’s part of the game,” Volquez said. “A lot of things happen during a game, but I was happy to be back out here and pitch some innings.”

Notes: Barring setbacks, LHP Dontrelle Willis will start for the Reds on Sunday. He has not pitched since Sept. 12 due to a back injury. … The announced paid crowd of 23,632 pushed Pittsburgh’s season total to 1,874,283 — the fourth-largest in club history. … The previous time Cincinnati’s Saturday starter RHP Travis Wood faced Pittsburgh, he had the shortest start of his career, 3 1-3 innings in a 9-3 loss April 18. … RHP Brad Lincoln will make his final start of the season Saturday for the Pirates after allowing six runs in 1 2-3 innings in his most recent outing.

CINCINNATI, Sept. 23 (UPI) — The Cincinnati Reds announced Friday that Walt Jocketty, the team’s president and general manager, had signed a three-year contract extension.

Jocketty’s contract was to have expired at the end of the current season.

“Since he’s been here, Walt has vastly improved our baseball operations within the organization,” Cincinnati Chief Executive Officer Bob Castellini said. “You can’t develop a winning tradition without stability. Walt and his staff are doing good things here. We want to keep that momentum going.”

Jocketty came to the Reds three years ago as a special assistant to Castellini and took over baseball operations three months later. Cincinnati reached the playoffs last year for the first time in 15 seasons and Jocketty was named executive of the year in the major leagues.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty signed a three-year contract extension on Friday that will keep him with the club through 2014.

Jocketty joined the organization in January 2008 and was named general manager months later, helping assemble the 2010 Cincinnati team that won the franchise’s first division title in 15 years. His contract was due to expire at the end of this season.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in this organization, but we still have a long way to go,” Jocketty said on Friday before the Reds game against the Pirates. “It was good to sit down with [team president Bob] Castellini and work this out and do three years, because I want to continue to grow this organization to the point where we will be perennial contenders.”

The 60-year-old executive was the general manager in St. Louis from 1995-2007. His Cardinals teams advanced to two World Series, winning the 2006 title.

When Jocketty arrived in Cincinnati, the Reds hadn’t had a winning season since 2000 and were coming off a 90-loss season. Two years later – after Jocketty acquired players such as Scott Rolen and Ramon Hernandez – the team won 91 and finished five games ahead of second-place St. Louis for the NL Central title.

“Since he’s been here, Walt has vastly improved our baseball operations within the organization,” Castellini said. “You can’t develop a winning tradition without stability. Walt and his staff are doing good things here. We want to keep that momentum going.”

Jocketty was given the major league executive of the year award by the Sporting News after last season, the third time he received the award that is voted on by his peers.

While the Reds’ success in 2010 was a surprise to some, the team was expected to contend this season but instead will finish in third place, floundering after a 25-17 start had them in first place on May 17.

“We came with a goal to build this organization into a winner,” Jocketty said. “We’re not quite there yet, and I felt there was still a lot of unfinished business to take care of.”

Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto and all-star outfielder Jay Bruce are among Cincinnati position players signed through next season, and the team holds an option on All-star second baseman Brandon Phillips. Six pitchers who will make at least 20 starts are locked up, as is Cuban ace Aroldis Chapman.

“I think it’s great for our city, great for Walt, great for the organization,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s a quality man. I’ve known him for a long time and he’s been the same.”

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

PITTSBURGH (AP)—Cincinnati Reds general manager Walt Jocketty signed a
three-year contract extension on Friday that will keep him with the club through
2014.

Jocketty joined the organization in January 2008 and was named general
manager months later, helping assemble the 2010 Cincinnati team that won the
franchise’s first division title in 15 years. His contract was due to expire at
the end of this season.

“We’ve made a lot of progress in this organization, but we still have a
long way to go,” Jocketty said on Friday before the Reds game against the
Pirates. “It was good to sit down with (team president Bob) Castellini and work
this out and do three years, because I want to continue to grow this
organization to the point where we will be perennial contenders.”

The 60-year-old executive was the general manager in St. Louis from
1995-2007. His Cardinals teams advanced to two World Series, winning the 2006
title.

When Jocketty arrived in Cincinnati, the Reds hadn’t had a winning season
since 2000 and were coming off a 90-loss season. Two years later—after
Jocketty acquired players such as Scott Rolen(notes) and Ramon Hernandez(notes)—the team won
91 and finished five games ahead of second-place St. Louis for the NL Central
title.

“Since he’s been here, Walt has vastly improved our baseball operations
within the organization,” Castellini said. “You can’t develop a winning
tradition without stability. Walt and his staff are doing good things here. We
want to keep that momentum going.”

Jocketty was given the major league executive of the year award by the
Sporting News after last season, the third time he received the award that is
voted on by his peers.

While the Reds’ success in 2010 was a surprise to some, the team was
expected to contend this season but instead will finish in third place,
floundering after a 25-17 start had them in first place on May 17.

“We came with a goal to build this organization into a winner,” Jocketty
said. “We’re not quite there yet, and I felt there was still a lot of
unfinished business to take care of.”

Reigning NL MVP Joey Votto(notes) and all-star outfielder Jay Bruce(notes) are among
Cincinnati position players signed through next season, and the team holds an
option on All-star second baseman Brandon Phillips(notes). Six pitchers who will make
at least 20 starts are locked up, as is Cuban ace Aroldis Chapman(notes).

“I think it’s great for our city, great for Walt, great for the
organization,” Reds manager Dusty Baker said. “He’s a quality man. I’ve known
him for a long time and he’s been the same.”