Pirates defeat Reds, 7-2
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PITTSBURGH -- Oliver Perez, on the verge of being sent to the minors with another bad start, limited Cincinnati to two runs over six innings and drove in two runs to lead the Pirates past the Reds, 7-2, last night.
The Reds again had little offense and lost their season-high fifth in a row and ninth in 13 games. They have been limited to two runs or fewer in seven of those 13 games.
Perez (2-5) unable to do much while allowing 32 earned runs in six consecutive bad starts, did it all in winning for the first time since April 18. He shook off a rough start in which four of the Reds' first five batters reached base to last six innings for only the second time this season.
Perez also helped himself with a two-run single in the second against Bronson Arroyo (5-2) and also stole a base, getting such a big jump on Arroyo that he reached second about the same time that Arroyo's pitch reached the plate.
Perez clapped his hands in celebration after reaching base and again after pulling off the steal, the first by a Pirates pitcher since he had a steal against the Reds on Sept. 18. And no wonder -- Perez understood he was close to being sent to the minors for the first time since 2003 after struggling with his delivery and control all season.
The Pirates skipped over Perez in the rotation after they were rained out against Arizona last Thursday, allowing Perez to have three extra throwing sessions with their coaching staff. Perez had as many walks (five) as he did strikeouts but, unlike recent starts, got important outs when necessary.
Perez looked to be in trouble after Ryan Freel, Felipe Lopez and Ken Griffey Jr. singled to start the game, and Austin Kearns followed a sacrifice fly. But Perez left the bases loaded by getting Edwin Encarnacion to pop up and Brandon Phillips to strike out.
Perez gave up Griffey's RBI single in the fifth to cut the Pirates' lead to 4-2, but again pitched out of a potential big inning by getting Kearns to ground into a double play and Encarnacion to line out with runners on first and third.
The left-hander's control wasn't what the Pirates would have liked -- he threw only 64 of his 112 pitches for strikes -- but he was far more effective than he was while allowing 15 runs in his previous three starts.
Arroyo, opposing the Pirates for the first time since they allowed him to be claimed on waivers in 2003, gave up Nate McLouth's second homer of the season in the first.
Arroyo then gave up four consecutive singles to start the second, with Perez coming up with the key hit by grounding a single into right field with the bases loaded. Freddy Sanchez added a run-scoring grounder that inning, and had a two-run double in the eighth off Rick White.
Notes: The Pirates have won consecutive games for the first time since April 28-29 and only the third time this season. ... Arroyo was 6-4 while pitching in Pittsburgh for the Pirates, including a 2-1 record in Three Rivers Stadium. ... Perez didn't allow a homer for the first time this season. ... Arroyo had pitched 10 consecutive scoreless innings until McLouth homered.
First Published May 17, 2006 12:00 am
