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). Wholesale Cavaliers Jerseys . Boston is making its first appearance in the ALCS since 2008. For Detroit, its a third straight trip to the ALCS and its fourth in eight years. Cavaliers Jerseys From China .com) - A top-10 showdown is on tap in at the McKale Center on Saturday, as the 10th-ranked Arizona Wildcats play host to the eighth-ranked Utah Utes in a key Pac-12 matchup. http://www.cheapcavaliersjerseyschina.com/ . Lawrie was hit on the hand by Cincinnati pitcher Johnny Cueto in the second inning of Sundays 4-3 loss to the Reds. Cavaliers Jerseys Outlet .com) - James Harden put the Houston Rockets on his back and willed them to an overtime victory on Thursday. Authentic Cavaliers Jerseys . Carling Bassett-Seguso was a world No. 8 almost 30 years ago. Currently 13th, Bouchard is assured of equalling that when the next rankings are released Monday.TORONTO -- Toronto Raptors forward Landry Fields will be sidelined for several weeks after having surgery on his right wrist. The Raptors said it was a "minor surgical procedure" to address the ulnar nerve release in his hand. Fields underwent ulnar nerve transposition surgeery in November of 2012 to alleviate nerve compression in his right elbow.dddddddddddd The 25-year-old is expected to return to light practising in three weeks. Fields has appeared in 23 games with one start this season, averaging 2.4 points, 2.2 rebounds and 11.9 minutes. 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