Published 1:35am Monday, December 26, 2011

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sean Marshall from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for young lefty starter Travis Wood and two other players.

It was the second time in a week that the Reds gave up several prospects for pitching help. They earlier sent four players, including Edinson Volquez, to San Diego for starter Mat Latos.

The 29-year-old, 6-foot-7 Marshall was 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA last season. He had five saves. The Reds have been in talks to try to re-sign closer Francisco Cordero, who became a free agent after last season.

“Sean has been one of the best and most durable relievers in baseball the last couple of seasons,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement.

The 24-year-old Wood made 35 starts for the Reds over two seasons. He finished 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 2011, with a stint in Triple-A after struggling early in the year.

The Cubs also get 24-year-old outfielder Dave Sappelt, who batted .243 in 38 games with the Reds, and 19-year-old infield prospect Ronald Torreyes, who batted .356 in 67 games for Class-A Dayton.

“Twenty-four-year old left-handed starters who have already had success in the big leagues don’t grow on trees,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We had to give up a great relief pitcher in Sean Marshall and someone we were proud to call a Cub, but we think to acquire Wood and the two young guys, it was worth doing.”

Wood made 17 starts for the Reds in 2010, going 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA. He took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies before giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz, and left after finishing the ninth with the game scoreless.

Wood began last season in the Reds’ starting rotation, made 10 starts for Louisville, then returned to Cincinnati. He also had four relief appearances for Cincinnati.

“He had a little bit of a down year last year, a little bit of a sophomore slump, but we still think all the ingredients are there to make him an excellent starting pitcher in the big leagues and you tend to not be able to get guys like that after their strong rookie years,” Epstein said. “But sometimes you have a chance to get them after they take a little bit of their lumps on the learning curve.”

Wood said he relied too heavily on his cutter last season and “lost the ability to really stick that four-seam (fastball) in there.” His control was off, but he also sees a shot at redemption in Chicago.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “The Reds do have a lot of depth in their rotation. … Hopefully, I can get to Chicago and make a difference.”

Besides the addition of Latos, the Reds return starting pitchers Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Homer Bailey and Bronson Arroyo. Aroldis Chapman, a left-handed reliever in his first two seasons, is also a possible starter next season.

In another move, Cincinnati claimed reliever Josh Judy off waivers from Cleveland. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched in 12 games over four stints with the Indians last season, with no record and a 7.70 ERA. He was 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 23 saves at Triple-A Columbus.

Epstein said the Cubs could still use some more starting pitchers in their farm system and at the major league level. He also said they’re weighing ace Matt Garza’s trade value versus locking him into a long-term deal. The right-hander was tendered a contract last week and is eligible for arbitration.

“It’s hard to find top-of-the-rotation-type guys, so if you have them and there’s a way to keep them around, I think that’s always compelling for the club,” Epstein said. “Now, that said, we’re in a mode where we have to listen on everybody. If there’s a way to improve the long-term outlook for this club in a significant manner, then we just can’t look past opportunities like that. We’re not in a situation where we have to do anything with Garza, but generally, we’re in the business right now of taking our short-term assets and turning them into long-term assets.”

———

AP sports writer Andrew Seligman in Chicago contributed to this report.

CINCINNATI — The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sean Marshall from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for young lefty starter Travis Wood and two other players.

It was the second time in a week that the Reds gave up several prospects for pitching help. They earlier sent four players, including Edinson Volquez, to San Diego for starter Mat Latos.

The 29-year-old, 200-cm Marshall was 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA last season. He had five saves. The Reds have been in talks to try to re-sign closer Francisco Cordero, who became a free agent after last season.

“Sean has been one of the best and most durable relievers in baseball the last couple of seasons,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement.

Wood, 24, made 35 starts for the Reds over two seasons. He finished 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 2011, with a stint in Triple-A after struggling early in the year.

The Cubs also get 24-year-old outfielder Dave Sappelt, who batted .243 in 38 games with the Reds, and 19-year-old infield prospect Ronald Torreyes, who batted .356 in 67 games for Class-A Dayton.

“Twenty-four-year old left-handed starters who have already had success in the big leagues don’t grow on trees,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We had to give up a great relief pitcher in Sean Marshall and someone we were proud to call a Cub, but we think to acquire Wood and the two young guys, it was worth doing.”

Wood made 17 starts for the Reds in 2010, going 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA. On July 10, he took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies before giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz, and left after finishing the ninth with the game scoreless.

Wood began last season in the Reds’ starting rotation, made 10 starts for Louisville, then returned to Cincinnati. He also had four relief appearances for Cincinnati.

“He had a little bit of a down year last year, a little bit of a sophomore slump, but we still think all the ingredients are there to make him an excellent starting pitcher in the big leagues and you tend to not be able to get guys like that after their strong rookie years,” Epstein said. “But sometimes you have a chance to get them after they take a little bit of their lumps on the learning curve.”

Wood said he relied too heavily on his cutter last season and “lost the ability to really stick that four-seam (fastball) in there.”

His control was off, but he also sees a shot at redemption in Chicago.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “The Reds do have a lot of depth in their rotation. . . . Hopefully, I can get to Chicago and make a difference.”

Nats bring in Gonzalez

AP

WASHINGTON — Nationals general manager Mike Rizzo has kept his eye on Gio Gonzalez for the last decade or so. Now, the left-hander is a member of Rizzo’s starting rotation.

Capping trade talks that began about a month ago, the Athletics and Nationals completed a six-player swap Friday that sends Gonzalez from Oakland to Washington, where he joins a promising pitching staff that already included right-handers Stephen Strasburg and Jordan Zimmermann.

“I’ve known him since he was in high school in the Miami area. This is a guy I followed for years. I really like the way he competes,” Rizzo said on a conference call.

CINCINNATI – The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sean Marshall from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for young lefty starter Travis Wood and two other players.

It was the second time in a week that the Reds gave up several prospects for pitching help. They earlier sent four players, including Edinson Volquez, to San Diego for starter Mat Latos.

The 29-year-old, 6-foot-7 Marshall was 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA last season. He had five saves. The Reds have been in talks to try to re-sign closer Francisco Cordero, who became a free agent after last season.

“Sean has been one of the best and most durable relievers in baseball the last couple of seasons,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement.

The 24-year-old Wood made 35 starts for the Reds over two seasons. He finished 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 2011, with a stint in Triple-A after struggling early in the year.

The Cubs also get 24-year-old outfielder Dave Sappelt, who batted .243 in 38 games with the Reds, and 19-year-old infield prospect Ronald Torreyes, who batted .356 in 67 games for Class A Dayton.

“Twenty-four-year old left-handed starters who have already had success in the big leagues don’t grow on trees,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We had to give up a great relief pitcher in Sean Marshall and someone we were proud to call a Cub, but we think to acquire Wood and the two young guys, it was worth doing.”

Wood made 17 starts for the Reds in 2010, going 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA. He took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies before giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz, and left after finishing the ninth with the score tied at 0.

Wood began last season in the Reds’ starting rotation, made 10 starts for Louisville, then returned to Cincinnati. He also had four relief appearances for the Reds last season.

“He had a little bit of a down year last year, a little bit of a sophomore slump, but we still think all the ingredients are there to make him an excellent starting pitcher in the big leagues, and you tend to not be able to get guys like that after their strong rookie years,” Epstein said.

“But sometimes you have a chance to get them after they take a little bit of their lumps on the learning curve.”

Wood said he sees a shot at redemption in Chicago.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “The Reds do have a lot of depth in their rotation. … Hopefully, I can get to Chicago and make a difference.”

Besides the addition of Latos, the Reds return starting pitchers Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Homer Bailey and Bronson Arroyo. Aroldis Chapman, a left-handed reliever in his first two seasons, is also a possible starting pitcher next season.

Epstein also said they’re weighing ace Matt Garza’s trade value as opposed to giving him a long-term deal.

“It’s hard to find top-of-the-rotation-type guys, so if you have them and there’s a way to keep them around, I think that’s always compelling for the club,” Epstein said. “Now, that said, we’re in a mode where we have to listen on everybody. If there’s a way to improve the long-term outlook for this club in a significant manner, then we just can’t look past opportunities like that.”

CINCINNATI (AP) — The Cincinnati Reds acquired left-handed reliever Sean Marshall from the Chicago Cubs on Friday for young lefty starter Travis Wood and two other players.

It was the second time in a week that the Reds gave up several prospects for pitching help. They earlier sent four players, including Edinson Volquez, to San Diego for starter Mat Latos.

The 29-year-old, 6-foot-7 Marshall was 6-6 with a 2.26 ERA last season. He had five saves. The Reds have been in talks to try to re-sign closer Francisco Cordero, who became a free agent after last season.

“Sean has been one of the best and most durable relievers in baseball the last couple of seasons,” Reds general manager Walt Jocketty said in a statement.

The 24-year-old Wood made 35 starts for the Reds over two seasons. He finished 6-6 with a 4.84 ERA in 2011, with a stint in Triple-A after struggling early in the year.

The Cubs also get 24-year-old outfielder Dave Sappelt, who batted .243 in 38 games with the Reds, and 19-year-old infield prospect Ronald Torreyes, who batted .356 in 67 games for Class-A Dayton.

“Twenty-four-year old left-handed starters who have already had success in the big leagues don’t grow on trees,” Cubs president of baseball operations Theo Epstein said. “We had to give up a great relief pitcher in Sean Marshall and someone we were proud to call a Cub, but we think to acquire Wood and the two young guys, it was worth doing.”

Wood made 17 starts for the Reds in 2010, going 5-4 with a 3.51 ERA. He took a perfect game into the ninth inning against the Philadelphia Phillies before giving up a double to Carlos Ruiz, and left after finishing the ninth with the game scoreless.

Wood began last season in the Reds’ starting rotation, made 10 starts for Louisville, then returned to Cincinnati. He also had four relief appearances for Cincinnati.

“He had a little bit of a down year last year, a little bit of a sophomore slump, but we still think all the ingredients are there to make him an excellent starting pitcher in the big leagues and you tend to not be able to get guys like that after their strong rookie years,” Epstein said. “But sometimes you have a chance to get them after they take a little bit of their lumps on the learning curve.”

Wood said he relied too heavily on his cutter last season and “lost the ability to really stick that four-seam (fastball) in there.” His control was off, but he also sees a shot at redemption in Chicago.

“I think it’s a great opportunity for me,” he said. “The Reds do have a lot of depth in their rotation. … Hopefully, I can get to Chicago and make a difference.”

Besides the addition of Latos, the Reds return starting pitchers Johnny Cueto, Mike Leake, Homer Bailey and Bronson Arroyo. Aroldis Chapman, a left-handed reliever in his first two seasons, is also a possible starter next season.

In another move, Cincinnati claimed reliever Josh Judy off waivers from Cleveland. The 25-year-old right-hander pitched in 12 games over four stints with the Indians last season, with no record and a 7.70 ERA. He was 6-2 with a 3.12 ERA and 23 saves at Triple-A Columbus.

Epstein said the Cubs could still use some more starting pitchers in their farm system and at the major league level. He also said they’re weighing ace Matt Garza’s trade value versus locking him into a long-term deal. The right-hander was tendered a contract last week and is eligible for arbitration.

“It’s hard to find top-of-the-rotation-type guys, so if you have them and there’s a way to keep them around, I think that’s always compelling for the club,” Epstein said. “Now, that said, we’re in a mode where we have to listen on everybody. If there’s a way to improve the long-term outlook for this club in a significant manner, then we just can’t look past opportunities like that. We’re not in a situation where we have to do anything with Garza, but generally, we’re in the business right now of taking our short-term assets and turning them into long-term assets.”

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

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 –

Homer Bailey lived up to his name by beating his hometown team for the fourth time.

Bailey shut Houston down again and came up with a career-high three hits and Devin Mesoraco homered to help the Cincinnati Reds snap a four-game losing streak with a 6-4 win over the Astros on Tuesday night.

Brandon Phillips also homered while Jay Bruce had three hits and Dave Sappelt and Juan Francisco each added two hits each as the Reds broke out of a slump. Their nine hits through five innings were one more than their total from the previous three games.

Bailey (9-7), who went into the game 3-0 with a 0.86 ERA in three starts against the Astros this season, set a career-high in wins while allowing six hits and two runs with two walks and five strikeouts in seven innings.

“He did everything tonight,” Dusty Baker said. “He fielded and got three hits. We needed him to go deep in the game with our bullpen situation.”

Bailey is from LaGrange, Texas a little over 100 miles from Houston.

“I like to pitch in Houston more,” Bailey said.

The 25-year set career highs even though he missed the first five weeks of the season with an impingement in his right shoulder.

“My number one goal for next year is to stay healthy,” Bailey said. “I had some injuries that were no one’s fault but if you look at my wins per start, I’d be at 15 wins over a full season.”

Houston manager Brad Mills has seen enough of Bailey for the year.

“How about that not only pitching against us but offensively too. He’s had some good outings against us,” Mills said.

Francisco Cordero pitched the ninth for his 34th save.

Houston starter Bud Norris (6-11) left the game two outs into the third inning with discomfort in his right shoulder. Norris allowed seven hits and three runs with two walks and three strikeouts while setting a career high in losses.

Juan Francisco led off Cincinnati’s second against Norris with a single to center. After Drew Stubbs, extending his single-season franchise strikeout record to 199, Mesoraco hit a 369-foot line drive into the left field seats for his second career homer.

The Reds loaded the bases on singles by Paul Janish and Bailey and a walk by Phillips, and Sappelt grounded an RBI single up the middle for a 3-0 lead.

Houston cut the lead to 3-2 in the third on Jordan Shafer’s leadoff walk and J.D. Martinez’s one-out homer into the visitors’ bullpen down the right field line.

The 334-foot drive on Bailey’s first pitch was Martinez’s ninth homer of the season and first since Aug. 20. That matched the number of runs scored by the Astros in Bailey’s three previous starts against them this season.

The Reds regained their three-run lead in the fourth on Bailey’s leadoff single, Sappelt’s one-out walk, a wild pitch and Bruce’s two-run single, which snapped a 0-for-16 drought.

Pinch-hitter Chris Johnson roughed up reliever Bill Bray for a two-run homer into the second deck of the left field bleachers in the eighth. It was his seventh homer of the season and first pinch-hit homer of his career.

Phillips countered in the bottom of the eighth with his 18th homer of the season into the Reds’ bullpen in left-center field. It was his sixth in the first nine games of this homestand.

“I’m just swinging the bat,” Phillips said. “I feel comfortable at the top of the lineup.”

The win tied Baker with Earl Weaver with 1,480 career wins and 21st place all-time.

“It took a week to get,” Baker said. “It’s nice to move up the ladder but we really just needed the win.”

Notes: Reds RHP Johnny Cueto will finish six innings short of qualifying for the ERA championship. Cueto, who left his last start with a strained muscle in his upper right back, said Tuesday that doctors have advised him to not throw for a while. Currently second to Los Angeles LHP Clayton Kershaw in the ERA race, Cueto needed six innings to reach the 162 he needs to qualify for the title. … The start of the game was delayed 13 minutes by rain. … Cincinnati’s Joey Votto singled in the ninth after going a season-high 14 at bats without a hit. … Houston’s Brett Wallace is hitless in his last 27 at bats after striking out as a pinch-hitter in the seventh. … Houston LHP Wandy Rodriguez, Wednesday’s scheduled starter, has been on a strikeout tear lately, with a total of 33 over his last 24 2-3 innings, spanning four starts. He needs two to reach 1,000 for his career. … Cincinnati’s starter, RHP Bronson Arroyo, will very likely see his streak of consecutive 200-inning seasons snapped at six. He has 182 innings with two remaining starts.