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RECAP
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BOX SCORE
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GAME LOG
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- This is the kind of September streak that can
alter division races and win championships. The Pittsburgh Pirates'
only problem is they waited until they were 26 games out to start
it.
Alex Ramirez's two-run triple broke up a scoreless game in the
sixth inning and the Pirates ran their winning streak to eight,
beating the Cincinnati Reds 3-1 Friday night to sweep a
doubleheader.
Jason Kendall doubled in two runs and Alex Hernandez hit his
first major league homer as the Pirates won the first game 7-3
behind Todd Ritchie's effective pitching.
The Pirates had lost 31 of 46 and were 26 games below .500 with
the majors' worst record until starting their longest winning
streak since they won eight in a row Aug. 16-27, 1998.
"They were saying we were the worst team in baseball, and
that's a label you don't want to have," Keith Osik said. "There's
enough guys in here who know that the season is a grind and you've
got to play it all the way to the end."
The Reds, who have not been shut out in 142 games this season,
matched a season high by stranding 14 runners in the second game.
They trailed 3-0 before Pokey Reese's two-out RBI single in the
eighth off rookie Matt Skrmetta, the fourth of the Pirates' seven
pitchers.
The Reds then pulled off their second double steal of the game,
but pinch-hitter Chris Stynes grounded out.
"It's great to get them on, but you've also got to get them
in," manager Jack McKeon said. "You can't leave two men on base
every inning like we did and expect to win. They jumped on the only
opportunity they had."
Ron Villone (9-9) took a three-hit shutout into the sixth in
only his third start since July 22, only to get in trouble by
walking pinch-hitter Adrian Brown and hitting Pat Meares with a
pitch with one out.
"We did it in the first game and we did it in the second game.
You can't walk leadoff hitters," McKeon said.
Enrique Wilson struck out before Ramirez, acquired from
Cleveland with Wilson in the Wil Cordero trade, tripled to score
both runners. Osik then fouled off a half-dozen pitches while
running the count to 3-2 before hitting a double that made it 3-0.
"That was an important run we got there," manager Gene Lamont
said. "It might have been a different story if we hadn't gotten
that run."
Villone said, "The bottom line is this game will drive you
nuts. You would like to take it back, but you can't do it. You just
close the page and go on to tomorrow."
Pirates rookie Bronson Arroyo (3-5), ineffective in relief after
going 2-4 with a 6.55 ERA as a starter, pitched five shutout
innings in his first start since Aug. 6. He struck out four and
overcame three walks, striking out Villone with the bases loaded to
strand three runners in the fourth.
"I didn't want to be the guy who messed this (winning streak)
up," Arroyo said. "I felt great the first two innings, but I've
only been throwing 25-30 pitches in relief and I was running on
fumes after that. I was lucky to pitch five."
Mike Williams, the Pirates' seventh pitcher, got the final out
for his 19th save in 24 chances.
The doubleheader was the first between the two in Three Rivers
since Aug. 22, 1975, when the Pirates swept a Reds team that led
the NL West by 16 games.
Game notes
The Pirates are 8-0 this month. They last had a winning
September in 1992. ... The doubleheader was the Reds' first of the
season. ... The Pirates have moved from last place to a third-place
tie with Milwaukee in the NL Central during their winning streak.
... The Pirates had split eight doubleheaders since sweeping the
Giants on Sept. 15, 1996. ... The Reds were swept for the second
time in their last 14 doubleheaders, with the other sweep coming
May 19, 1998, against the New York Mets. ... Pirates outfielder
Adam Hyzdu, an 11-year minor league veteran, singled in his first
major league at-bat in the second game. His number was retired this
week by Double-A Altoona. ... Reds reliever Mark Wohlers, who
walked four of six batters in his previous outing, retired the four
batters he faced in the second game.
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ALSO SEE
Baseball Scoreboard
Cincinnati Clubhouse
Pittsburgh Clubhouse
Reds' Larkin, Taubensee undergo surgery
RECAPS
NY Yankees 4
Boston 0
Chi. White Sox 5
Cleveland 4
Toronto 3
Detroit 0
Texas 6
Kansas City 5
Anaheim 2
Baltimore 1
Tampa Bay 4
Oakland 0
Minnesota 4
Seattle 2
Houston 13
Chicago Cubs 10
Cincinnati 0
Pittsburgh 0
Pittsburgh 3
Cincinnati 1
(2nd game)
Arizona 2
Florida 1
Philadelphia 2
NY Mets 0
Atlanta 3
Montreal 2
Milwaukee 6
St. Louis 5
Colorado 8
Los Angeles 5
San Diego 10
San Francisco 7
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