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 Russell Martin drew a bases-loaded walk from Tony Cingrani with
two outs to force in the winning run as the Pirates beat the Reds
4-3 on Thursday.
"I was going to make him throw strikes," Martin said. "I think we
got a fortunate call on that 3-1 count but it's nice to have a call
go our way for once."
Price and Cingrani both felt the last pitch should have been called
a strike by home plate umpire Mike Estabrook.
"We're in the 12th inning of a ballgame and the strike zone had
already been established," Price said. "The low strike had been
called, and to the credit of the home plate umpire, consistently to
no advantage of either team.
"And to have that pitch right there, it split the plate at the
bottom of the strike zone that had been established and called ball
four. I'm not saying we would have won this game, but it certainly
didn't give us an opportunity to go out there and compete in the
13th."
The five-pitch walk concluded what was a small ball inning for the
Pirates.
First baseman Gaby Sanchez singled with one out off of the
left-handed Cingrani (2-8) and took second on a balk. Third baseman
Josh Harrison was intentionally walked before shortstop Jordy Mercer
struck out for the second out.
 However, Cingrani hit second baseman Clint Barmes with a pitch to
load the bases then walked Martin, the catcher, as the Pirates
snapped a three-game losing streak.
"We wanted to be patiently aggressive in the strike zone," Pirates
manager Clint Hurdle said. "We were able to take advantage of some
situations. The kid out there, he starts spraying a little bit so we
wanted to maintain discipline."
The Reds were also upset about the balk call by first base umpire
Jerry Layne, believing it changed the complexion of the inning.
"I've done that move a million times and they just pick and choose
when they call it," Cingrani said. "And they never give you an
explanation."
Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco hit a solo home run, his 10th of the
season, off closer Jason Grilli with one out in the ninth inning to
tie the score at 3-3 and force extra innings. It was Grilli's third
blown save in 14 opportunities.
Barmes had the eighth four-hit game of his career but first since
2009. Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco and left fielder
Starling Marte added two hits each.
Polanco became the first player in Pirates' history to have a hit in
each of the first nine games of his major league career. He is
hitting .395 with nine runs scored and six RBIs since being called
up from Triple-A Indianapolis.
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Marte extended his hitting streak to 10 games.
Left-hander Justin Wilson (2-0) pitched a scoreless 12th for the
win.
Pirates left-hander Jeff Locke gave up two runs and three hits in
six innings, walking one and striking out two.
Cincinnati right-hander Homer Bailey allowed three runs and nine
hits in 5 2/3 innings. He struck out five and walked one as the Reds
(35-36) lost for just the second time in eight games and failed to
move over .500 for the first time this season.
Bailey has not beaten the Pirates in six starts since throwing a
no-hitter against them in 2012.
Cincinnati third baseman Todd Frazier had three hits and shortstop
Zack Cozart added two.
NOTES: The game was delayed in the bottom of the sixth inning for 35
minutes because of rain. ... Cincinnati LF Ryan Ludwick was a late
scratch from the starting lineup with tightness in his lower back
but was able to pinch-hit in the seventh inning. ... Pittsburgh RHP
Gerrit Cole is on track to be activated from the disabled list June
28 to start against the New York Mets. He has been sidelined since
June 4 with shoulder fatigue. ... Pirates 2B Neil Walker, who is
recovering from an appendectomy, will play in a simulated game
Friday at Bradenton, Florida, against minor league pitchers then
begin a rehab assignment with Class A Bradenton on Sunday. ... The
Reds host the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night in the opener of a
three-game series with RHP Mat Latos (0-0, 0.00) facing RHP R.A.
Dickey (6-5, 4.08), while the Pirates open a three-game series
Friday afternoon at Chicago against the Cubs with RHP Charlie Morton
(4-7, 3.09) opposing RHP Edwin Jackson (4-7, 5.11).
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