Back-to-back homers drive Pirates
CINCINNATI — It's too early to say if Pittsburgh's three-way deal at the trade deadline is paying off, but the Pirates can dream, can't they?
Rookies Brandon Moss and Andy LaRoche, two of the players acquired by Pittsburgh in a six-player deal on July 31, hit back-to-back home runs to help the last-place Pirates snap a 10-game losing streak with a 3-2 win over the Cincinnati Reds Tuesday night.
"Basically, we've been pressing the last few games," said Moss, who had a career-high three hits and is hitting .366 (15-for-41) with four home runs and six RBI in his last 11 games. "It's hard enough playing baseball and winning games without pressing. It's a roller-coaster with ups and downs, and we've been on a prolonged down."
Moss and LaRoche were acquired in a three-way trade on July 31 that sent left fielder Manny Ramirez from the Red Sox to the Dodgers and left fielder Jason Bay from the Pirates to Boston.
The homers helped right-hander Ian Snell win for the second time in three starts. Snell (6-10) lasted six innings, giving up seven hits and two runs — one earned. He struck out five.
Matt Capps pitched a perfect ninth for his 18th save in 23 opportunities.
Chris Dickerson gave Cincinnati a 1-0 lead in the first inning with his fifth homer of the season and second leading off a game for the Reds.
Moss, sent to the Pirates from the Red Sox, hit his sixth home run since joining the Pirates in the second, and LaRoche , who came from the Dodgers, followed with his fifth overall to give Pittsburgh a 2-1 lead.
"Brandon's made a lot of strides, I think," Pirates manager John Russell said. "He's even laying off strikes — pitches that aren't good hitting pitches — and that's helping him center the ball. Andy's coming along as well."
Notes: RHP Ross Ohlendorf, one of nine players Pittsburgh recalled on Tuesday, was scheduled to make his first career start today. LHP Zach Duke's start was pushed back to Friday at San Francisco.
