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.

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.”

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.”

Reds manager Dusty Baker, right, and catcher Ramon Hernandez walk off the field at Great American Ball Park for the final time this season after a 2-0 win. / DAVID KOHL/AP

Written by

Associated Press

More In Sports

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By SportsDirect

CINCINNATI — Bronson Arroyo pitched a six-hitter and the Cincinnati Reds wrapped up their home schedule Wednesday with a 2-0 win over the Houston Astros.

Miguel Cairo homered as Cincinnati finished 42-39 at Great American Ball Park. The Reds drew 2,213,498 this season, an increase of 152,948 over last year’s attendance when they won the NL Central.

The game took only 2 hours, 12 minutes, the fastest of the season for the Reds. There was a 4-minute delay before the fourth inning because of flashing lights triggered by a fire alarm.

Arroyo (9-12), who had been 0-2 over his previous four starts, retired his first 10 batters. He didn’t allow a hit until Carlos Lee led off the fifth with a soft single just over the glove of a leaping Cairo at third base.

Arroyo walked none and struck out two. He needed just 91 pitches in his fourth career shutout and first since beating Washington on Aug. 13, 2009.

The Reds right-hander didn’t allow a home run, keeping his season total at 44, four short of tying the National League record and six short of matching the major league mark.

Houston didn’t get runner to third until the eighth and Arroyo responded by striking out pinch-hitter Brian Bogusevic and Jordan Shafer.

The Reds took a 1-0 lead against Wandy Rodriguez (11-11) in the first when Brandon Phillips led off with an leadoff infield single, stole second and scored on Chris Heisey’s two-out bloop single.

Cairo hit a 410-foot drive into the upper deck in left in the second. It was his career-high eighth homer of the season.

Rodriguez allowed four hits with two walks and four strikeouts in seven innings. He recorded his 1,000th career strikeout by fanning Joey Votto leading off the sixth.

NOTES: The Astros finished their road schedule with a 25-56 record. … Houston RHP Bud Norris’ right shoulder still was sore Wednesday morning after he left his start on Tuesday in the fourth inning. His availability for his next start probably won’t be decided until the team returns to Houston and he can be examined by team doctors, manager Brad Mills said. … Reds C Ryan Hanigan and 3B Scott Rolen won’t play the rest of the season, manager Dusty Baker said. Back spasms have kept Hanigan sidelined since Sept. 15. Rolen hasn’t been able to completely get over arthroscopic surgery performed on Aug. 3 on his left shoulder. … Reds CF Drew Stubbs was scratched from the original starting lineup. Stubbs was hitless in his last 13 at-bats with eight strikeouts to reach 200 for the season. … Houston opens its final homestand of the season Thursday against Colorado. RHP Henry Sosa will face the Rockies for the first time in his career. … The Reds start their final road trip of the season Friday in Pittsburgh with RHP Edinson Volquez seeking his first win in four starts since June 29. He spent most of the second half of the season at Triple-A Louisville.