Major League Baseball

Reds beat Cole for 3rd time this season, top Pirates 4-3

Published Aug. 1, 2015 10:13 p.m. ET

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CINCINNATI (AP) Eugenio Suarez became the latest Reds hitter to frustrate Gerrit Cole.

The shortstop had a sacrifice fly and an RBI double off Pittsburgh's 14-game winner, and Cincinnati extended its home-field success over the Pirates with a 4-3 victory on Saturday night.

The Reds have won five of six against their Ohio River rival at Great American Ball Park this season. They are 9-3 against Pittsburgh overall.

Cole (14-5) leads the majors in wins, but three of his five losses have come against the Reds, a team he has never beaten. Jay Bruce added a run-scoring double as Cole fell to 0-4 in six career starts against the Reds.

''It was a really good night for me and the team,'' Suarez said. ''I was just trying to put the ball in play with a man on third. I'm just trying to hit the ball hard somewhere.''

Suarez got his third RBI of the night with a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning off newcomer Joe Blanton for a 4-2 lead.

Raisel Iglesias (2-3) gave up four hits, including Jung Ho Kang's homer, in 6 2-3 innings to get his first victory since May 13. Iglesias is part of Cincinnati's all-rookie rotation and had struggled in three starts since returning from a strained left oblique.

Reds closer Aroldis Chapman gave up three hits in the ninth, including Francisco Cervelli's RBI single, and a walk that loaded the bases with two outs. He fanned Starling Marte on a 100 mph fastball for his 22nd save in 23 chances.

''Another kind of a grinder of an inning,'' manager Bryan Price said. ''They did a good job putting the bat on the ball.''

Cincinnati listened to offers for Chapman before Friday's trade deadline but decided to keep him. He has converted 55 consecutive save chances at Great American.

Cole has been excellent on the road this season, going 9-2 with a 2.01 ERA. The Reds took advantage of a couple of defensive shortcomings to beat him again.

''I'm very frustrated,'' Cole said. ''They've got me every time. But you have to honestly evaluate and find stuff to move forward with. I thought there were some mistakes that need to be corrected. There weren't a ton.''

Marlon Byrd opened the second with a stand-up triple, a liner that eluded a diving Andrew McCutchen in center. He scored on Suarez's flyout. Byrd is 8 for 16 off Cole for his career, including three homers.

Byrd and Brayan Pena singled in the fourth, and Suarez doubled for a 2-1 lead. The Reds added an unearned run in the fifth when Brandon Phillips singled, advanced on Chris Stewart's passed ball and came around on the first of Bruce's two doubles.

ANOTHER GREAT CATCH

Marte made a diving catch in left field to rob Bruce in the first inning. Marte threw a runner out at the plate in the ninth inning Friday night and also made a diving catch to preserve a 5-4 win.

STREAKS

Marte went 0 for 5, ending his hitting streak at 10 games. ... Reds star Joey Votto was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts, ending his streak of reaching base safely in 21 consecutive games.

FIFTY AGAIN

Reds center fielder Billy Hamilton singled and stole his 50th and 51st bases - most in the majors - during the third inning. He stole 56 last season. He has stolen more bases than six NL teams.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Pirates: LHP Bobby LaFromboise was optioned back to Triple-A Indianapolis to open a roster spot for starter J.A. Happ, who joined the team on Saturday.

Reds: Byrd was hit on the left shoulder by Blanton's pitch in the eighth but stayed in the game.

UP NEXT:

Pirates: Charlie Morton makes his fourth straight start on the road, where he is 2-3 with a 7.26 ERA in six games this season.

Reds: Keyvius Sampson makes his first career start and second appearance. He'll give the Reds five rookies in the starting rotation.

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Follow Joe Kay on Twitter: http://twitter.com/apjoekay

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