CINCINNATI (AP) -
Johnny Cueto allowed six hits over 7 2-3 innings on Wednesday night, and Ryan Ludwick drove in three runs with a bases-loaded double, leading the Cincinnati Reds to a 5-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates.
The Reds won for the 12th time in 17 games and extended their NL Central lead over Pittsburgh to three games. The second-place Pirates lost for only the third time in their last 11 games.
Cueto (6-3) left with a 5-1 lead in the eighth. Andrew McCutchen hit a three-run homer off Logan Ondrusek two pitches later.
Aroldis Chapman pitched a perfect ninth for his sixth straight save. The left-hander hasn't allowed an earned run in his 24 appearances this season, a club record.
Ludwick's double highlighted a four-run fourth inning off Brad Lincoln (3-1).
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