CINCINNATI — The liner seemed to dart at the last moment, deflecting off the end of Gregory Polanco’s glove in right field for a game-ending error.

The whole series went that way for the Pirates.

Joey Votto added to his resurgent series with his first homer since last May 10, and Polanco’s misplay in the ninth inning on Thursday sent the Cincinnati Reds to a 3-2 victory.

The Pirates hadn’t lost their first three games of a season since 2006, when they started 0-6 on the road.

All three games were close until the end.

“It’s been exciting,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “We’ve just got to find a way to connect the dots a little better on offense with more consistency.”

This one came down to a hanging pitch and a sinking liner.

Votto hit a tying two-run homer in the sixth inning. Todd Frazier led off the ninth with a double off Rob Scahill (0-1) and advanced on Devin Mesoraco’s groundout. After Jay Bruce was intentionally walked, Polanco moved into position to catch Byrd’s liner and make a throw home. The ball went off his glove.