PITTSBURGH — It took their best player getting hit near his head with a pitch to awaken Pittsburgh's offense enough to snap another losing streak.

Rookie Neil Walker had three hits and drove in a career-high four runs and the last-place Pirates snapped a five-game skid by holding on for a 7-6 victory over the first-place Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night.

Walker had a three-run double that followed Jose Tabata's RBI single just after outfielder Andrew McCutchen left the game after he was hit by a pitch in the back of the neck. It was all part of a six-run second inning for Pittsburgh, which had scored only two runs combined in losing its previous four.

"Oh yeah, definitely," Walker said when asked if his big hit coming just after McCutchen was nearly beaned made it feel any better. "I mean, that wasn't going through my mind when I stepped into the box — I was just hoping to hit a ball hard — but the way it worked out like that was really good. Obviously, we're happy to see Cutch OK."

McCutchen remained on the ground on top of home plate for several minutes after sustaining a contusion of the back of his neck when a fastball from Mike Leake (7-3) struck him just under the back of his batting helmet. McCutchen walked off under his own power but appeared disoriented as he headed into the dugout tunnel to the clubhouse.

The Pirates said preliminary X-rays came back normal, and McCutchen does not have any concussion-like symptoms. He is officially listed as day to day.

Brandon Phillips went 3 for 5 with two RBI and Chris Heisey had two RBI singles for the Reds, who came in having won three straight and five of six. Cincinnati remained in first place in the NL Central because St. Louis lost to Houston.

Cincinnati nearly erased a 7-1 deficit with two runs in the sixth and another in the seventh off Paul Maholm (7-9) . Phillips hit a two-run double off all-star Evan Meek in the eighth, but new Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan earned his first save since May 24, 2009, when he was with Washington, by striking out two after allowing Scott Rolen's leadoff single in the ninth.

"I was a little nervous, I'm not going to lie," said Hanrahan, who inherited the closer's role to share with Meek when Octavio Dotel was traded Saturday.