CINCINNATI (Interstat) — Nick Lodolo struck out a career-high 12 batters over 6 1/3 dominant innings, and the Cincinnati Reds held off the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1 on Thursday afternoon at Great American Ball Park.

Lodolo (9-8) allowed just two hits and walked none, thoroughly stifling a Pirates lineup that mustered only three hits total. The left-hander set the tone early, striking out the side in the third inning and fanning at least two batters in four of his frames. He left the game to a standing ovation from the crowd of 24,249 after recording the first out in the seventh.

The game was a pitchers’ duel through four innings between Lodolo and Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft (4-4). Cincinnati consistently put pressure on Ashcraft, collecting eight hits against him, but could not break through until the fifth.

The Reds’ rally began with a single by Ke’Bryan Hayes. TJ Friedl followed with a double to center field, but Hayes was thrown out at the plate on a relay from center fielder Alexander Canario to second baseman Nick Yorke to catcher Joey Bart. The Pirates challenged the tag play, but the call was upheld after a review.

Noelvi Marte then singled sharply to center, scoring Friedl to tie the game 1-1. Marte advanced to second on a throwing error by shortstop Nick Gonzales. Gavin Lux followed with an RBI single to right field, plating Marte to give Cincinnati a 2-1 lead.

Pittsburgh’s lone run came in the eighth inning against reliever Tony Santillan. Pinch-hitter Spencer Horwitz led off with a double and advanced to third on a groundout. He then scored on another groundout by Nick Yorke, cutting the deficit to 2-1.

Emilio Pagán entered for the ninth and retired the Pirates in order, flying out Gonzales, Bryan Reynolds and Andrew McCutchen in succession to secure his 30th save of the season.

The Reds improved to 81-78 with the victory, while the Pirates fell to 69-90. Pittsburgh had won the first two games of the series, including an 11-inning contest on Wednesday.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen kept the game close after Ashcraft departed. Carmen Mlodzinski and Kyle Nicolas combined for 3 2/3 innings of scoreless relief, allowing just two hits.

The game, which lasted 2 hours, 16 minutes, defied the pregame projections. Interstat’s game simulator had projected a 5-3 Reds victory, and the total score of three runs fell well under the over/under line of 8.5.

Both teams conclude their regular seasons with three-game road series beginning Friday. The Pirates travel to face the Atlanta Braves, while the Reds head to Milwaukee to play the Brewers.