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Pirates pitcher Bailey Falter, bullpen make 1-0 stand up for Pittsburgh

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PITTSBURGH -- Bailey Falter gave up four hits and had five strikeouts through seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates ended a four-game losing streak with a 1-0 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Tuesday night.

Falter (3-3) has surrendered one run in 23 2/3 innings over his past four starts, including none in 16 2/3 in his past three.

David Bednar pitched the ninth for his fourth save.

Bryan Reynolds lined an RBI single into right to put the Pirates ahead in the sixth. Oneil Cruz walked and stole second for the second time in his first three plate appearances.

Nick Martinez (2-5), who faced two batters over the minimum through the first five innings, limited the damage in the sixth by getting Joey Bart to ground into a double play to end his night with one run allowed on four hits and two walks.

Falter nearly found immediate trouble when TJ Friedl led off the first with a triple off the Clemente Wall in right. Friedl was stranded when Falter forced Santiago Espinal to ground out, struck out Elly De La Cruz and forced Austin Hays to pop up to first.

Espinal later started the fourth with a double to left. Falter responded again, retiring the next three batters capped with a strikeout of Spencer Steer.

Key moment

Reynolds' sixth-inning single made sure Cruz's second steal didn't go to waste after he walked, stole second base and went to third on a wild pitch just to be stranded in the first inning.

Key stat

The Reds had scored 26 runs on a five-game winning streak, averaging 5.2 per game. The Pirates failed to score more than four runs for a 25th straight game.

Roster moves

The Pirates placed right-handed pitcher Colin Holderman on the 15-day injured list with right thumb inflammation.

Right-handed pitcher Isaac Mattson had his contract selected from Triple-A Indianapolis.

Mattson was 2-0 with four saves, a 2.50 ERA (18.0ip/5er), 22 strikeouts, .182 batting average against and 0.94 WHIP in 16 appearances this season with Indianapolis.

The 29-year-old Mattson entered today tied for fourth in the International League in saves (four).

Mattson will wear uniform No. 72.

Infielder Nick Gonzales has been transferred from the 10- to 60-day injured list to make room for Mattson on the 40-man roster.

Pittsburgh's 40-man roster remains full.

Up next

Reds RHP Brady Singer (5-2, 5.01 ERA) will take the mound in the series finale Wednesday opposite Pirates LHP Andrew Heaney (2-3, 3.02).

Starting at /week.