Pittsburgh, PA (My Sportsbook) - Andy LaRoche and Ramon Vazquez each had two RBI to help the Pittsburgh Pirates take an 8-6 decision over the Cincinnati Reds in the second of a three-game set at PNC Park.

Nate McLouth went 3-for-5 with three runs scored and an RBI while Nyjer Morgan scored twice for the Pirates, who snapped a four-game slide. Ross Ohlendorf (3-2) got the win as he gave up just three runs on six hits with two walks and two strikeouts in six innings.

Alex Gonzalez hit a three-run homer while Adam Rosales had three hits, one run scored and one driven in for the Reds, who had a two-game winning streak snapped. Micah Owings (1-3) was charged with the loss for giving up five runs on nine hits in 5 2/3 innings.

The Pirates, who came into the game having been blanked in their previous 22 innings, grabbed a lead they never relinquished in the first inning. With men on first and second, McLouth hit a sharp grounder that second baseman Brandon Phillips was unable to play, allowing Morgan to score. Later with the bases loaded, LaRoche was hit by a pitch to bring home Freddy Sanchez and Vazquez followed with a single to right to bring home McLouth and Adam LaRoche for a 4-0 lead.

"Once guys do get a run or a couple of runs it seems to relax guys," said Pirates manager John Russell. "Hopefully we've put this behind us."

In the third, McLouth led off with a single, moved to third on Adam LaRoche's single and crossed the plate on a single from Brandon Moss for a 5-0 advantage.

"It just maybe takes him a little more time to get warmed up and get loose," Reds manager Dusty Baker said of Owings. "But he's throwing the ball well. You take away that first inning, they hardly score."

Cincinnati got back into the contest in the fourth inning. Ramon Hernandez led off with a single and Rosales followed with a base hit. Gonzalez then belted a pitch that hit off the left field foul pole to make it a 5-3 game.

Pittsburgh gave itself some breathing room in the seventh as Andy LaRoche hit a ball that Phillips misplayed, allowing McLouth and Adam LaRoche to cross the plate for a 7-3 lead.

The Reds got a run in the eighth as Rosales hit into a fielder's choice that got Phillips home to make it a 7-4 game.

However, the Pirates tacked on another run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly from Sanchez that helped Morgan come home.

Cincinnati got RBI singles from Joey Votto and Phillips to make it a two-run game in the ninth, but Matt Capps was able to hold on and got Gonzalez to strike out swinging and end the game.

Game Notes

Ohlendorf has won his last three starts...The Reds left 11 men on base.