Pittsburgh at Cincinnati

August 10:  Reds 5 Pirates 2  

Reds used 2 late inning homeruns to win their home opener. Pirates grabbed early 2-0 lead on rbi double by McCutchen followed by Alvarez's rbi single. Cozart's single plated 1 run and the game entered the key 6th inning. The Pirates had men on 2nd and 3rd with 1 out and after Mercer failed, Martin was walked intentionally. The Pirates lifted starter Locke but Marlon Byrd struck out. In the bottom of the inning, Cozart singled and with 2 outs Jay Bruce homered to give Reds the lead. Xavier Paul's pinch hit 2 run homer in the 7th provided the insurance. Cueto got the win.

August 11: Pirates 5 Reds 3

Pirates overcame an early Reds lead to even the series. Reds grabbed 3-0 lead in the first as Votto singled in the first run and Bruce smashed a 2 run homer. Pirates got 2 back in 2nd as Nercer doubled in a run followed by Martins double. Pirates took the lead in the 5th as Marte lead off with a double scored on an error by Paul fielding Tabata's single. Tabata took 3rd on the play and scored on McCutchen's sac fly. Alvarez doubled in insurance run in the 7th. Things got interesting in the 9th as Pirates reliever Melancon loaded the bases giving up 2 singles and hit a batter. After striking out pinch hitter Stubbs, Watson came on to retire Heisey for the save.

August 12: Pirates 4 Reds 2

Pirates pounded out 14 hits and used some clutch hitting to win the game and the series. Lirano pitched 6 innings holding the Reds to 1 run on 3 hits. Meanwhile the Pirates got single runs in the 2nd and 3rd as Mercer tripled in first run and McCutchen singled in the other. The Reds used an error by Rolen to add a run in the 7th and Sanchez's sac fly in 9th plated an insurance run. Melancon earned the save. Marte had 3 hits for the Pirates while Mercer doubled and tripled. For the 3 games, the Pirates had 36 hits.