Rookie right-hander Brandon Cumpton makes the second start of his career on Thursday afternoon when the Pittsburgh Pirates visit Great American Ball Park for the fourth and final game of a series with the Cincinnati Reds.
A 24-year-old from Augusta, Ga., Cumpton made his big-league debut five days ago in Pittsburgh, where he allowed three runs on seven hits in five innings while getting a no-decision in a game the Pirates lost, 5-3.
Pittsburgh's ninth-round draft choice in 2010, Cumpton began his career with three appearances in the short-season Class A New York-Pennsylvania League after he was picked, then advanced to split 2011 between the South Atlantic and Florida State leagues - going 10-7 in 26 games.
He was 12-11 at Double-A Altoona in 2012 and had split the early spring between Altoona and Triple-A Indianapolis while going 4-5 in 13 appearances with a 3.84 earned run average before his promotion.
He walked one batter and struck out five against the Dodgers.
The Reds counter with righty Homer Bailey, who starts for the 13th time in his career against the Pirates.
The first-round draft pick in 2004 is 8-2 in 12 meetings against Pittsburgh, including a no-hitter with a walk and 10 strikeouts in a 1-0 victory on Sept. 28 at PNC Park.
His last win this season came two starts ago on June 10 in Chicago, when he allowed an unearned run on four hits over eight innings of a 6-2 defeat of the Cubs.
He dropped one subsequent start, a 6-0 decision to Milwaukee on June 15, in which he went seven innings but gave up six runs on eight hits.
On Wednesday, Brandon Phillips' RBI single in the bottom of the 13th inning lifted the Reds over the Pirates, 2-1.
Vin Mazzaro (3-2), who tossed a scoreless 12th, stayed on to pitch the 13th for the Pirates. Derrick Robinson reached base on an infield single and moved to third on Shin-Soo Choo's base hit to right. Joey Votto was intentionally walked to load the bases for Phillips, whose hit up the middle scored the winning run.
"I haven't been myself lately," Phillips said. "To come through like that, I was due. It felt good just to hit the ball up the middle and come through for the team. It was a team effort. We stayed in the game and we really wanted this win."
Jay Bruce sent the game into extras with a solo homer in the ninth. Cincinnati starter Bronson Arroyo allowed one unearned run on six hits over seven innings. Manny Parra (1-1) tossed a scoreless 13th to pick up the win.
Starling Marte scored the lone run for the Pirates, who saw starter Jeff Locke give up just four hits over seven scoreless frames.
Cincinnati won two of three games with Pittsburgh earlier in June at PNC Park, while the Pirates swept a three-game series there earlier in the season.
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