Reds Avoid Sweep, Willis Gets First Win

Dontrelle Willis the Reds pitcher got his first win with a huge assist from Dontrelle Willis the hitter on Sunday. Willis pitched well and slugged a tie-breaking, two-run double in the top of the sixth as the Reds emerged with a 5-4 victory over the Pirates to avoid a three-game series sweep.

In his 13th and final start of the season and winless going in, Willis worked six innings and allowed three runs on only three hits with two walks and six strikeouts.

"It was great to get him that first one because it's been a long time coming for him," Reds manager Dusty Baker said.

It was a 3-3 game in the Reds' sixth when Devin Mesoraco hit a one-out single off of reliever Daniel Moskos and Paul Janish hit a double to left field to put two runners into scoring position.

On an 0-1 pitch from Moskos, Willis drove his two-run double off of the right field wall.

"He's one of the better, if not the best, hitting pitchers in the league," Moskos said. "But that being said, he is still a pitcher. No knock on him, he can still handle the bat. But I need to make a better pitch. I left a slider up after I got ahead. He did some damage with it."

It gave Willis an even .400 batting average for the season.

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