Gennett hits grand slam, drives in six

Matt Harvey (1-2) pitched six innings of one-run, three-hit ball for the victory. Harvey threw 93 pitches, 63 for strikes. He only allowed two base runners after the first inning.

Gennett drove in six of the Reds’ seven runs. He is hitting .324 and on pace for 26 home runs and 109 RBI.

Harvey had to escape a jam of his own making in the first. Gregory Polanco singled with one out. Harvey, who had not walked a batter in his first two starts with the Reds, then walked Francisco Cervelli and Josh Bell to load the bases.

But Harvey got Corey Dickerson to fly out and struck out Colin Moran to end the threat.

The Reds took the lead in their half of the first. Tucker Barnhart, in the second spot, singled. An out later, Gennett doubled and Barnhart scored from first.

That brought up Eugenio Suarez to face Jameson Taillon (2-4). In their last meeting, Taillon hit Suarez on the right thumb, costing him 17 days on the disabled list.

Suarez got a bit of revenge with an RBI double to left to make it 2-0.

The Pirates cut the lead in half in the fourth. Harvey got ahead of Moran 0 and 2. The next pitch was a waste pitch — a chesthigh, 95 mph fastball. Moran went up and got it, hitting it out to right for his fourth home run.

The Reds opened up in the fifth. Jose Peraza singled with one out and Barnhart doubled. The Pirates intentionally walked Votto. It was his 135th career intentional walk, tying him with Johnny Bench for the all-time Reds lead.

Taillon hung an 86 mph change-up on the next pitch. Gennett hit it about dozen rows up into the seats in right field for his eighth home run of the season and sixth career grand slam.