Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - The Pittsburgh Pirates finally gave A.J. Burnett some run support on Thursday in a 7-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds.
Burnett (1-1) allowed two runs on seven hits while striking out four and walking two over seven innings. The 38-year-old had surrendered one run or fewer in each of his last four starts.
In his first five starts, Burnett received just five runs of support while on the mound.
Starling Marte and Chris Stewart each drove in two runs for the Pirates, who avoided a three-game sweep and snapped a five-game skid. Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker had one RBI apiece.
"We just had better at-bats," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "We managed the batter's box better at the end of the day. Can't say more than that."
Todd Frazier hit a solo homer for the Reds, who had won seven straight against Pittsburgh. Anthony DeSclafani (2-3) gave up three runs on seven hits with four walks over five innings.
"I was fighting myself," said DeSclafani. "I definitely wasn't happy with this outing. I wasn't getting ahead of hitters at all. I've got to figure something out and make changes ASAP."
The Pirates jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Gregory Polanco led off with a double and raced home on Walker's single to center. Walker stole second and advanced to third when Marte flied out to deep left. Alvarez then hit a grounder to first and Walker was thrown out between third and home. Josh Harrison grounded out to end the inning.
Frazier tied things up with a blast to left in the fourth.
Pittsburgh took the lead back for good in the fifth. Walker singled, advanced to third on McCutchen's double and scored on Marte's sacrifice fly. Alvarez followed with an RBI double off the wall in center.
The Reds got one run back in the sixth when Marlon Byrd tripled and scored on Joey Votto's groundout.
The Pirates scored three runs off Kevin Gregg in the seventh. Walker drew a walk, moved to second on McCutchen's single and crossed the plate on Marte's base hit to center.
Gregg picked up a pair of big strikeouts around a walk that loaded the bases, but Stewart hit a two-run single to left-center field.
McCutchen added an RBI single in the eighth.
Game Notes
McCutchen had three of Pittsburgh's 11 hits ... The Reds went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and stranded seven ... Frazier hit his 10th home run of the season.
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