Pena’s Slam Sparks Reds

Wily Mo Pena relished the biggest hit of his career.

Pena came through with a pinch-hit grand slam in the seventh inning, capping a six-run rally that sent Cincinnati past slumping Pittsburgh, 6-4, Friday night.

“I hit a grand slam earlier this year, but this is the biggest because we won the game and my team’s happy,” Pena said.

Ken Griffey, who was honored before the game for hitting his 500th home run last Sunday, was hitless in three at-bats with a walk. He is one for 19 since his historic home run, failing to get a hit in his last 16 at-bats.

But Pena gave the Reds their sixth consecutive two-out hit in the seventh as Cincinnati erased a 4-0 Pittsburgh lead and sent the Pirates to their 16th loss in 19 games.

“Strange things are happening around here,” said Pittsburgh starter Kip Wells, who took a no-hit bid into the sixth inning but wound up with a no-decision.

It was Pena’s second slam of the season and seventh homer overall. It also was the first pinch-hit grand slam by a Cincinnati batter since Russell Branyan connected off Milwaukee’s Brooks Kieschnick last July 21.

Jason LaRue started the rally with a double down the left-field line and moved to third on Juan Castro’s single to right. Pittsburgh Manager Lloyd McClendon replaced Wells with Brian Meadows, and Tim Hummel and pinch-hitter Jermaine Clark each hit a run-scoring single.

Salomon Torres (4-3) came in, walked Ryan Freel and was replaced by left-hander Mike Gonzalez. Cincinnati Manager Dave Miley sent up Pena to bat for switch-hitting D’Angelo Jimenez, whose pulled left-side muscle makes swinging from the right side uncomfortable.

“I got behind,” Gonzalez said. “I had to come in there and throw fastballs. I threw three in a row. That one was up.”

Pena was batting a team-high .375 against left-handers entering the game.

“I just put him in there,” Miley said. “He’s the one who produced.”

Jason Bay’s three-run homer capped Pittsburgh’s four-run first before Jose Acevedo (4-6) settled down to earn his first win in five starts.