Recap: Cincinnati vs. Pittsburgh

Sports Network | October 4, 2009

Cincinnati, OH (Sports Network) - Brandon Phillips drove in three runs and Homer Bailey pitched six shutout innings, as the Cincinnati Reds closed the 2009 season with a 6-0 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates at Great American Ball Park.

Drew Stubbs went 3-for-4 with a pair of runs scored and Joey Votto added three hits for the Reds (78-84), who finished the campaign with their ninth straight losing season, their longest stretch of futility since an 11-year run from 1945-55.

Bailey (8-5) scattered seven hits, walked three and struck out seven to win his third straight start. He was 6-1 with a 1.70 earned run average over his last nine outings.

"I had a lot of run support and some good defense," said Bailey. "To end the season like this is good."

Andrew McCutchen and Robinzon Diaz each had two hits for Pittsburgh (62-99), which avoided a 100-loss season, but has still not finished at .500 or better since winning the NL East back in 1992.

"I'm very pleased with a lot of the talent that we acquired," said Pirates manager John Russell. "A lot of reports from the minor league of the guys we got we're pretty excited about. We need some individual improvement."

Jeff Karstens (4-6) took the loss for the Pirates, allowing two runs on four hits in 2 1/3 innings.

The Pirates left two on in the top of the first and the Reds answered with a run in the home half, as Stubbs led off with a single and scored on a double by Phillips.

Cincinnati left runners on second and third in the first, but tacked on a run in the third. Stubbs again led off with a base hit, took second on a single by Votto and advanced to third on a wild pitch before scoring on a grounder by Phillips.

Pittsburgh ran into an out at home in the fourth, then failed to pick up a run despite a leadoff triple by Steve Pearce in the fifth. Bailey threw out Lastings Milledge at home in the fourth and struck out three straight batters with Pearce on third in the fifth.

The Reds blew it open with four in the bottom of the fifth. Stubbs led off again, but this time was called out on strikes. Paul Janish then walked and Votto singled before Phillips doubled home a run. Scott Rolen then tripled to score two more and trotted home on a single up the middle by Jay Bruce to make it 6-0.

Phillips had a chance to drive in more runs in the sixth when he came up with the bases loaded, but grounded into an inning-ending double play. He finished the season with a career-best 98 runs batted in.

Phillips' previous best RBI season was 94 in 2007...The Reds blanked an opponent for the 12th time this season...Pittsburgh was 0-for-13 with runners in scoring position and left 13 on base, while Cincinnati was 6-for-13 with runners in scoring position...The Pirates used seven pitchers...Cincinnati won the season series 13-5...The Reds won 10 of their final 13 games.