CINCINNATI, Ohio (Interstat) — Braxton Ashcraft allowed one earned run over five innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a three-game sweep by defeating the Cincinnati Reds 4-1 on Saturday. The Reds had won the first two games of the series. Ashcraft (11-4) scattered two hits and struck out five in the win. Andrew Abbott (5-7) took the loss, surrendering three earned runs over five innings.

Pittsburgh broke through in the third inning. Bryan Reynolds walked with the bases loaded to force in a run, Esmerlyn Valdez walked to score another, and Nick Gonzales’ fielder’s choice brought home a third. Henry Davis added an RBI single in the sixth. Jose Trevino homered for Cincinnati in the fifth.

Gregory Soto pitched the ninth for his 14th save. Carmen Mlodzinski threw three scoreless relief innings. The Pirates collected six hits, the Reds three. Attendance was 27,616, and the game lasted 4:24. Pittsburgh improved to 56-56; Cincinnati fell to 52-58.