Tony Tribble, Associated Press Starter Ian Snell pitched seven innings, giving up one run and four hits last night on his way to his 11th win of the season. Click photo for larger image. Today Today: Pirates (Paul Maholm 5-10) vs. Reds (Eric Milton 8-7), 8:05 p.m. Where: Great American Ball Park, Cincinnati. Radio: KDKA-AM (1020) and Pirates Radio Network. Related articles Pirates Notebook: Chacon to work out of the bullpen

CINCINNATI -- The Pirates might be taking a page from the Colorado Rockies' blueprint for building a contender.

The Pirates' 7-3 victory against Cincinnati last night made them 17-15 after the All-Star break.

The Rockies were 30-28 in their final 58 games last season.

"And they're a good team this year," Jack Wilson said.

Colorado has been in contention for a division title or wild-card berth most of the season.

"They have good, young players," Wilson said. "We have good, young players. And there's a lot to be said that most of our young talent is pitching -- and it has tremendous upside. Our pitching's our future."

Ian Snell's present is pretty good, too.

The right-hander overcame a bothersome second inning to limit Cincinnati to four hits in his seven innings of one-run ball and pocketed his 11th victory.

Freddy Sanchez continued his drive toward a National League batting championship with four more hits, including two doubles, raising his total to a league-leading 43.

Sanchez lifted his batting average to .351.

Xavier Nady also had four hits, including a three-run home run in the third that gave Snell a nice bit of comfort.

The Pirates, 15-45 on the road, "improved" their record to 8-32 when a left-hander starts against them. They chased Cincinnati starter Chris Michalak by the fifth.

The Pirates scraped up two runs in the second after singles by Nady and Ronny Paulino put runners on first and second with no outs.

Jose Bautista, on his own, bunted to the right of the mound, moving the runners to second and third. Before an 0-1 pitch to Jose Castillo, first base umpire Mike Winters called a balk on Michalak on a pickoff throw to first.

Nady scored, and Paulino moved to third. Castillo was given an intentional walk. After Snell fouled off a suicide-squeeze attempt, he hit a bouncer over the mound that got Paulino home.

Snell immediately handed the Reds a great scoring opportunity, walking Adam Dunn and Rich Aurilia on four pitches each to begin the bottom of the second.

After striking out Brandon Phillips, Snell went 3-2 on Javier Valentin, who lined the next pitch into right field for a run-scoring single.

Michalak sacrificed Valentin to second, with Aurilia holding at third. Snell then walked Ryan Freel on five pitches and went 3-1 on Scott Hatteberg.

With the 29-pitch inning about to blow up on him, Snell retired Hatteberg on a bouncer to Nady.

"With Ken Griffey Jr. on deck, he obviously needed to make a quality pitch with his fastball," manager Jim Tracy said. "He threw a two-seamer and got Hatteberg to roll over on it."

"To tell you the truth, I have no idea what happened that inning," Snell said. "It was hard to keep the ball down."

It wasn't so hard thereafter.

	THE RACE How Freddy Sanchez stands in his bid to become the first Pirates player to win the National League batting title since Bill Madlock in 1983. LAST GAME Last night: 4 for 5 with two doubles vs. Reds. LEADERS Freddy Sanchez .351 Miguel Cabrera, Marlins .334 Albert Pujols, Cardinals .330 NEXT GAME Today: 6:10 p.m. vs. Reds. Pitcher: Eric Milton. Sanchez is 7 for 11 lifetime vs. Milton.

"Ian Snell did a great job of rectifying himself after starting a little bit slow from a command standpoint," Tracy said. "We got him a [good] lead in the third inning, and he took control of the game. What a tremendous sign of growth."

With one out in the Pirates' third, Sanchez and Jason Bay singled, putting runners on first and second.

Michalak just missed inside on an 0-2 pitch to Nady, who drove the next pitch over the center-field wall.

His first home run as a Pirate made it 5-1.

"He's a nice-looking addition," Tracy said of Nady, acquired from the New York Mets July 31 for pitchers Roberto Hernandez and Oliver Perez.

The Pirates continued to pressure Michalak in the fifth and gave themselves an opportunity to all but decide the game, but they couldn't do it.

Bay's leadoff double, Nady's single to left and Paulino's infield hit to the left of the mound loaded the bases with no outs.

Left-hander Bill Bray, one of many relievers Reds general manager Wayne Krivsky has obtained recently, replaced Michalak.

Bray almost put down this threat with no damage.

Bautista popped out behind first base. but Castillo walked on a 3-2 pitch to force in the Pirates' sixth run. Snell struck out. and Chris Duffy grounded to shortstop.

One batter -- and one inning -- too late to make a major impact, the Pirates got a home run as Wilson opened the sixth with his eighth homer and first since June 20.

The Pirates had another chance to put away the Reds in that inning. A double by Sanchez and a one-out single by Nady put runners on first and third before the Reds turned Paulino's sharp bouncer to second into a double play.

By then, Snell was on cruise control.

He needed 47 pitches to get through the first two innings but only 52 more to finish his seven innings.

"I told myself to quit throwing like a little girl and trying to place the ball," Snell said. "I told myself to just throw it."

David Kohl, Associated Press Freddy Sanchez congratulates Xavier Nady after Nady hit a three-run home run against Reds pitcher Chris Michalak in the third inning last night in Cincinnati.