Oct 3, 2015 3 min read

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH – Starling Marte’s two-run homer in the bottom of the 12th inning gave the Pittsburgh Pirates a 6-4 victory over Cincinnati Friday night, extending the Reds’ losing streak to 13 games.

The Pirates (97-63) maintained a two-game lead over the Chicago Cubs for home-field advantage Wednesday night in the NL wild-card game. Pittsburgh can ensure the game is at PNC Park with a win in either of its two remaining games or one Cubs loss in Milwaukee.

Andrew McCutchen had three hits for the Pirates, including a home run.

Gregory Polanco drew a one-out walk from Colin Balester (1-1) in the 12th. Marte hit the next pitch into the right-field stands for his 19th home run of the season and third career walk-off shot. He also hit a game-ending homer Aug. 22 against San Francisco.

Arquimedes Caminero (5-1) pitched a scoreless inning for the win.

Eugenio Suarez had two hits and three RBIs, including a two-run homer, for the Reds.

Both starting pitchers lasted five innings.

Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano allowed four runs and seven hits with five strikeouts and no walks. Liriano raised his season strikeout total to 205, surpassing the 201 he had in 2010 with the Minnesota Twins.

Reds rookie Keyvius Sampson gave up four runs and three hits while striking out seven and walking two. The 24-year-old is winless in his last nine starts, going 0-5 in that span.

The Pirates tied it 4-all with a three-run sixth inning after loading the bases with none out to chase Sampson.

Tony Cingrani relieved and walked pinch-hitter Michael Morse to force in a run. Another run scored on Pedro Alvarez’s fielder’s choice grounder, then Jordy Mercer tied it with an RBI single.

The Reds took a 4-0 lead with a pair of runs in both the second and third.

Suarez hit his 13th homer of the season in the second. An inning later, Jay Bruce hit an RBI double and Suarez followed with a run-scoring single.

McCutchen pulled the Pirates to 4-1 when he led the fourth inning with his 23rd homer.

VOTTO TIES ROSE

Joey Votto tied a Reds record by reaching base safely in his 48th consecutive game. Votto singled in the third inning off Liriano to match Pete Rose’s mark set in 1978.

Rose’s run included a 44-game hitting streak, the longest in National League history.

Votto also reached base for the 316th time this season, equaling the club record he set in 2013. The first baseman entered the game hitting .317 with 29 home runs, 142 walks and an NL-leading .463 on-base percentage.

UP NEXT

Reds: LHP Brandon Finnegan (4-2, 3.86 ERA) will make his fourth start for Cincinnati. He is 1-2 with a 6.00 ERA since moving into the rotation Sept. 18.

Pirates: RHP A.J. Burnett (9-6, 3.15) is 1-1 with a 3.68 ERA in four starts since being on the disabled list from July 31 to Sept. 9 with a strained flexor tendon in his right elbow. Burnett plans to retire at the end of this season, so this would likely be the last game of his 17-year career if the Pirates lose the wild-card game.