Newman’s ninth-inning blast leads Bucs past Reds, 6-5

Kevin Newman launched a two-run homer with two outs in the bottom of the ninth inning Friday night to send the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds at PNC Park.

Newman’s homer was his second of the night and fourth walk-off hit of the season, and it extended the Pirates’ winning streak to four games heading into tonight’s 7:05 matchup with the Reds at PNC Park.

It was Newman’s first multi-home run game of his career, and it came off Reds closer Raisel Iglesias, who fell to 3-12.

The Reds took a 2-0 lead in the first on a throwing error by Pirates catcher Jacob Stallings – a throw that third baseman Erik Gonzalez should have handled – and a fielder’s choice.

Cincinnati added to its lead in the fifth on Phillip Ervin’s two-run single.

Newman pulled the Pirates to within a run in the bottom of the fifth when he launched a three-run homer to left.

Pittsburgh tied the game in the sixth when Kevin Kramer scored on a throwing error by Jose Peraza, but the Reds pulled in front in the eighth on Michael Lorenzen’s RBI single to center.

Lorenzen also pitched two innings in relief and was in line to win the game – and pull off a rare feat of delivering the game-winning hit while also picking up a victory in relief.

But he gave way to Iglesias in the ninth, and that proved problematic for the Reds.

Jake Elmore singled to lead off the inning and after a wild pitch and two ground outs, Newman took a 1-1 pitch and launched it into the left-field bleachers for the game-winning homer.

The two teams return to action at 7:05 p.m. Saturday for the season’s penultimate game.