Spring Fever: Reds @Pirates

Reds 9, Pirates 8

Eric Milton allowed four runs and seven hits, striking out three and walking one in 3.2 innings for the Cincinnati Reds in their 9-8 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Sunday.

Eight Reds hurlers combined to strike out 10 hitters and walk three while reliever Todd Coffey fanned all three batters he faced.

The Reds scored four first-inning runs off of Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny, who has allowed 10 earned runs in only 6.1 innings this spring. Centerfielder Josh Hamilton, Rule 5 draft pick/recovering drug addict, singled home a run in the first inning, adding two more singles while improving his average to .538.

Gorzelanny finally settled down and held the Reds scoreless in his last two innings of work, striking out the side in the third inning.

With Cincinnati down 8-6 in the eighth, shortstop Juan Castro hit a two-run bomb off of Pirates reliever John Grabow. Jerry Gil doubled then scored the winning run.

Former Pirates reliever Brian Meadows retired Pittsburgh in order to earn his first save.

[MLB] | [MiLB]