(Sports Network) – Lefty Travis Wood can continue a recent string of scoreless
outings tonight when the Cincinnati Reds visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the
middle contest of three weekend games at PNC Park.

A 24-year-old, Wood had appeared in five consecutive games — four relief
outings and one start — since last allowing a run during a 5-3 loss to the
New York Yankees on June 20 in Cincinnati.

He’s 1-0 in his outings since, picking up the win after two-thirds of an
inning of relief against the Pirates during Cincinnati’s 11-8 victory in
Pittsburgh on Aug. 19.

Overall, he’s pitched 10 consecutive shutout innings while allowing five hits
and striking out nine batters.

He’s 2-1 lifetime against the Pirates with a 4.91 earned run average in 11
innings.

In Friday’s opener, pinch-hitter Ryan Ludwick posted the game-winning hit in
the bottom of the ninth inning, sending the Pirates to a 4-3 win.

Pinch-hitter Jason Jaramillo ripped a double to left with one out off Reds
reliever Bill Bray (5-3) before Ludwick came through with the walk-off single
to center against Nick Masset, allowing pinch-runner Chase d’Arnaud to easily
score from second.

Garrett Jones hit a two-run homer and Andrew McCutchen finished with two hits
and a run scored for the Pirates, who bounced back after a 2-5 road trip.

Joel Hanrahan (1-4) earned the win despite plunking Todd Frazier to force in
the tying run in the top half of the frame.

“I didn’t have all my good stuff, but I tried to find a way to make it work,”
Hanrahan said. “I think I hit my first guy of the year. This game’s funny.”

Joey Votto picked up an RBI double, while Frazier and Paul Janish had two hits
apiece for the Reds, who had their two-game winning streak snapped.

The Pirates start 26-year-old righty Brad Lincoln, who appears for the second
time in his career against the Reds.

Lincoln took a no-decision in the initial outing, tossing two-thirds of an
inning in relief in the aforementioned 11-8 game in which Wood got the
victory.

He’s made six starts since and is 1-3 while allowing 17 runs in 31 innings.

Lincoln is 0-2 in seven home appearances this season.

Pittsburgh is 9-4 versus the Reds this season.

The Sports Network