ee in the third. "It was disgracefully embarrassing, thats what

PITTSBURGH -- Getting to .500 certainly is not the ultimate goal for a franchise that has been to the post-season in three of the last four seasons. Considering the Cincinnati Reds started the year at 3-8, however, they were happy to get their record to 11-11 on Thursday. Ryan Ludwick lined a two-run double after two batters were hit by pitches, lifting Tony Cingrani and the Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates 2-1. The Reds won for the seventh time in nine games. "Three series wins in a row, back to .500," Ludwick said. "The pitching was outstanding. Pitching wins championships and those guys did an outstanding job. If we keep getting pitching like that, were going to be back in this thing in a hurry." The Pirates have lost six of seven, scoring a total of 22 runs in that span. Cingrani (2-2) allowed one run and six hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two. Logan Ondrusek, Sam LeCure and Jonathan Broxton pitched one scoreless inning each in relief of Cingrani. Broxton recorded his fourth save. "Certainly a great series here," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "We had to battle -- they pitched us tough, as they always do. Theyve got a good squad, and some way we found a way to grind out three victories here. Im really proud of the boys." Ludwicks double in the sixth drove in Joey Votto and Todd Frazier. Both of them were plunked by rookie Brandon Cumpton (0-1), promoted from Triple-A earlier in the day. "It was great because we were starting to get a little irritated because we had three hit batters in the game and a couple of our guys got squared up pretty good," Price said. "I dont think there was any intent to it, but the fact his two-run double followed the third hit by pitch had a little bit more sweetness to it for sure," he said. Cumpton gave up just two runs in seven innings while taking the rotation spot of lefty Wandy Rodriguez, put on the disabled list Monday with inflammation in his left knee. Cumpton held the Reds to four hits while walking one and striking out five, but also hit three batters. He had a string of 20 consecutive scoreless innings in the major leagues, dating to last season, until Ludwick snapped it. "I was feeling good, trying to attack guys and be aggressive," Cumpton said. "Unfortunately, I let a couple of pitches get away." Ludwick had two of the Reds five hits. Neil Walker got two of Pittsburghs seven hits. The Pirates scored in the first inning when Pedro Alvarez singled in Walker, who had drawn a walk. Pittsburgh left eight runners on base as it fell a season-worst five games under .500 at 9-14 a year after both making the post-season and having a winning record for the first time since 1992. "We cant worry about where we are right now," Pirates centre fielder Andrew McCutchen said. "We know were going to be better. Were going to learn as a team and keep pushing forward." "Its having a trust in one another, having each others backs. Weve just to keep working on things." NOTES: Reds CF Billy Hamilton was caught stealing as a pinch runner. He didnt start, and Price said he wants to give the rookie leadoff hitter some regular mental breaks throughout the season. ... Pittsburgh C Russell Martin did not start for a second straight game with what manager Clint Hurdle said after the game was "lower body soreness." . Cincinnati opens a three-game series Friday night against the Braves at Atlanta with RHP Homer Bailey 1-1, 5.75) facing RHP Ervin Santana (2-0, 0.86). ... The Pirates begin a three-game series Friday at St. Louis against the Cardinals with RHP Gerrit Cole (2-1, 3.67) matching up against RHP Shelby Miller (1-2, 3.57). Jimmie Foxx Jersey . - Maynor Figueroa headed in a late goal to give Honduras a 1-1 draw with the United States in an international friendly Tuesday. Yoenis Cespedes Jersey . Numbers Game looks into the Wild getting Matt Moulson from Buffalo. The Wild Get: LW Matt Moulson and LW Cody McCormick. http://www.officialredsoxfanstore.com/authentic-luis-tiant-red-sox-jersey/ . However, it wasnt a problem on Monday night. Evgeni Nabokov made 23 saves for his 56th career shutout in the New York Islanders 3-0 win over the Detroit Red Wings on Monday night. Christian Vazquez Jersey . Spezza scored a power-play goal with 5 minutes left and Stephane Da Costa had the other two goals to lead the Ottawa Senators to a 3-2 victory over the Columbus Blue Jackets on Tuesday night. Nomar Garciaparra Jersey . -- The Orlando Magic finally are showing the patience in critical moments that coach Jacque Vaughn has been waiting for all season.NASHVILLE -- Facing an early deficit, Nashville turned the game around with its power play. Patric Hornqvist scored with the man-advantage at 13:56 of the third period to lift the Predators to a 3-2 victory over the Tampa Bay Lightning on Thursday night. Matt Cullen and Roman Josi also scored power-play goals to help Nashville snap a three-game losing streak. The three man-advantage goals were a season high for the Predators. Nashville entered Thursday with the NHLs seventh-best power play. "The power play was really huge, but our 5-on-5 play was strong," Nashville coach Barry Trotz said. "We gave up seven shots in the last two periods and that includes a couple of power plays that they had." Martin St. Louis had both goals for the Lightning, losers of three of their last four. With time winding down in the final period, Hornqvist collected the rebound of Mike Fishers shot and slipped it by Tampa Bay goaltender Ben Bishop. "It hit the heel of my stick, and then I dont know if I got a whack on it on the rebound, too," Hornqvist said. "Its nice to see that it finally went in. Thats how I have to play every single night to be effective." St. Louis opened the scoring at 5:26 of the first period. Ondrej Palat carried the puck from the left boards into the slot, where he sent a backhand off the left post. St. Louis was parked in front of the Nashville goal to tap home the rebound. Less than four minutes later, St. Louis struck again. With the Lightning on a power play, St. Louis wrist shot from the right faceoff dot hit Nashville goaltender Carter Hutton in the chest, fell to the ice, and tricklled across the goal line.dddddddddddd. Hutton is 7-2-2 in his last 11 games. Since scoring a career-best four times in Tampa Bays Jan. 18 game against San Jose, St. Louis had not scored a goal, a stretch of nine games. He also was pointless in five games for Team Canada in their gold medal-winning performance at the Sochi Olympic Games. "Our 5-on-5 play was horrendous," St. Louis said. "Our battle level was very low. Youve got to grind it out in this league, and we didnt do that." After getting nine shots on goal in the first, Tampa Bay managed just four in the second and three in the third. "It was disgracefully embarrassing, thats what that game was," Lightning coach Jon Cooper said. "Two periods, really, really disappointed. Seven shots in the last two periods?" Cullen struck at 12:05 of the second. Ryan Ellis skated the puck into the right circle, where he faked a shot and found Cullen at the back door for an easy tap-in. Josi tied the game 1:11 later on another power-play goal when the Swiss Olympian ripped a slap shot from the left faceoff dot over Bishops left shoulder. "The first period, we didnt manage the puck that well," Josi said. "We actually didnt play a bad period in the first, but they got up 2-0. After that, we just worked their defence and our forwards did a great job down low." NOTES: Palat has points in three-straight games. ... Cullen had not scored a goal since Nov. 27, breaking a stretch of 29 games without a goal. ... Nashville is 7-21-5 when its opponents score first. . The game was the first of five consecutive home games for Nashville coming out of the Olympic break. ' ' '