Cin 8, Pit 6

Saturday, May 23-- The Pittsburgh Pirates are having a hard time winning these days. Today at Forbes Field was another example.

The Cincinnati Reds handed the Bucs their seventh straight loss, 8-6.

The Pirates (16-22) battled back from an early 4-0 deficit to tie the game, but the Reds pulled away. That's the way it's been going for the Pirates as of late.

The Reds (16-21) won their third straight, jumping all over Pirates starter Bennie Daniels (2-4) with four runs in the first inning. Vada Pinson's two-run homer (6) was the big blow.

The Pirates responded with three runs in their half of the first, and then tied the game in the fifth inning.

But the Reds scored two runs in the sixth and two more in the seventh to go ahead, 8-4.

In the eighth, trailing 8-4, the Bucs loaded the bases with nobody out but could only manage to score one run. They rallied again in the ninth inning, but left two runners on base.

Bill Mazeroski had four hits and three RBI for Pittsburgh.

Pinson and Frank Robinson each had two RBI for Cincinnati.

The winning pitcher was starter Orlando Pena (1-2), who went seven innings.