The Pirates took a half-game lead on the St.. Louis Cardinals and Milwaukee Brewers in the NL Central with a 2-0 win in a rain-delayed game against the Cincinnati Reds on Monday.
Charlie Morton pitched five innings that, with the rain delays, stretched over about three hours, and allowed three hits. He got out of a jam in the first thanks to a sparkling defensive play by Chase D'Arnaud, but otherwise needed little help.
D'Arnaud singled to start the fourth, and Neil Walker moved him to third with a single of his own, then moved to second on the throw. Andrew McCutchen's groundout and Matt Diaz's sacrifice fly brought home two runs.
After Morton departed, the Pirates' bullpen took over, pitching four hitless innings, 2.2 of which belonged to Tony Watson.
The game was played before a surprisingly large and loud crowd for a rain-delayed, Monday-night game at PNC Park.
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