PITTSBURGH (Interstat) — Oneil Cruz singled to center field with two outs in the eighth inning, driving in Konnor Griffin from second base, and the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Cincinnati Reds 1-0 on Sunday afternoon at PNC Park to complete a three-game sweep.

The victory extended Pittsburgh’s winning streak to three games after the Pirates had lost four in a row, including three at home to St. Louis. Cincinnati, which had won two of three entering the series, lost its third straight and fell to 20-14. The Pirates improved to 19-16.

Pirates right-hander Braxton Ashcraft and Reds right-hander Chase Burns engaged in a taut duel that kept the game scoreless through seven innings. Ashcraft allowed four hits over 7 2/3 innings, striking out six without issuing a walk. Burns yielded three hits in seven innings, striking out seven and walking one. Neither starter factored in the decision.

Pittsburgh broke through in the bottom of the eighth against Reds reliever Tony Santillan (1-1). With two outs, Griffin doubled off the center-field wall, his fourth double of the season. Pinch-hitter Jake Mangum worked a full-count walk, and Cruz followed by lining a sharp single to center. Griffin scored easily ahead of the throw from center fielder TJ Friedl.

Left-hander Gregory Soto (3-0) earned the win after getting the final four outs. He retired the side in order in the eighth and worked a 1-2-3 ninth, striking out two.

Cincinnati’s best scoring chance came in the top of the eighth. Spencer Steer led off with a single off Ashcraft, and after Will Benson struck out, Jose Trevino doubled down the left-field line, putting runners at second and third. Matt McLain then grounded to third baseman Nick Gonzales, who threw home to catcher Joey Bart to cut down Steer at the plate. Friedl struck out swinging to end the threat.

The Reds stranded a runner in scoring position in the sixth when Friedl doubled with two outs but was left as JJ Bleday lined out to second baseman Brandon Lowe.

Pittsburgh also missed a chance in the bottom of the seventh when Bryan Reynolds drew a one-out walk, but Ryan O’Hearn grounded into a double play. The Pirates grounded into two double plays in the game, as did the Reds.

Cincinnati’s lineup managed only four hits. Trevino went 1 for 3 with a double. Friedl was 1 for 4 with a double. Steer singled for the Reds’ only other hit. Elly De La Cruz was 0 for 3 with a walk and a strikeout.

Pittsburgh collected five hits. Cruz was 2 for 4 with an RBI. Griffin doubled in three at-bats. Joey Bart singled in two at-bats. Marcell Ozuna singled in the eighth. The Pirates struck out 11 times, but their pitching staff issued only one walk while striking out 12.

The game lasted 2 hours, 6 minutes in front of an announced crowd of 16,642.

Cincinnati had won five of the previous six meetings between the teams before this series. The Reds had taken two of three from the Pirates in Cincinnati at the end of March, but Pittsburgh outscored them 27-8 in the three-game set at PNC Park, including a 17-7 victory Saturday and a 9-1 win Friday.

Ashcraft rebounded from a poor start April 28 against St. Louis in which he allowed six earned runs in 4 1/3 innings. He was sharp Sunday, retiring the side in order in four of his seven-plus innings and allowing no Reds baserunner past second base until the eighth.

Burns continued his strong start to the season. He allowed only two singles through the first five innings and did not walk a batter until De La Cruz in the seventh. He struck out the side in the fifth — Nathaniel Lowe, Steer and Benson all went down swinging.

The Reds’ defense turned two double plays, including a 3-6-3 grounder in the seventh. The Pirates also turned two, one of which ended the top of the fourth when Sal Stewart grounded into a twin killing after Bleday had singled.

Pittsburgh’s bullpen has been effective in the series. Soto, who took over for Ashcraft after the eighth-inning single by Steer, allowed no hits and struck out two. The Pirates’ relievers combined for 1 1/3 scoreless innings, matching the shutout performance of the starters.

Cincinnati now travels to Chicago for a four-game series against the Cubs beginning Monday. The Reds then return home for a six-game homestand against Houston and Washington. Pittsburgh heads to Arizona for a three-game series Tuesday, followed by a three-game series in San Francisco.

Interstat’s game simulator had projected a final score of Cincinnati 6, Pittsburgh 4. Interstat’s ELO system gave the Pirates a 51.40 percent probability to win. Cincinnati was installed as a pregame favorite with a spread of minus-1.5. The total of 1 run went over the over-under line of 7.5.