REDS 5, PIRATES 1
at Bradenton, Fla.
Friday, March 21

Reds at the plate: Every one of Cincinnati's starting position players reached base on Friday, as the offense burst out for five runs and nine hits in the first five innings. Javier Valentin drove in runs in both the second and fourth, while Joey Votto, Juan Encarnacion and Ken Griffey Jr., all finished with two hits. Brandon Phillips drove in two with a fifth-inning double.

Pirates at the plate: After coming into the game just 9-for-39 this spring, left fielder Jason Bay knocked two hits against Reds starter Aaron Harang, who gave up just four hits total. The Pirates finally dented the scoreboard in the seventh when a Xavier Nady groundout drove in Adam LaRoche after back-to-back hits by LaRoche and Ryan Doumit.

Reds on the mound: Cincinnati's Opening Day starter, Harang, looked to be in regular-season form on Friday, throwing six scoreless innings and allowing just four hits while striking out five. After pitching in a Minor League game on Monday, Mike Stanton returned to Grapefruit League action on Friday and allowed one run on two hits in an inning of relief.

Pirates on the mound: The Reds knocked Tom Gorzelanny around for nine hits and five runs in five innings of work. Closer Matt Capps struck out two in a scoreless inning of relief, while Sean Burnett benefited from a spectacular center-field catch by Nyjer Morgan to escape the seventh unscathed. The scoreless appearance was the sixth straight for Burnett, who is fighting one of the team's final bullpen spot.

Grapefruit League records: Reds 12-12-1; Pirates 8-15.

Up next for the Reds: Bronson Arroyo will get the start when the Reds face the Astros and Brandon Backe on Saturday at 1:05 p.m. ET in Kissimmee, Fla. Also scheduled to pitch are Bill Bray, Todd Coffey and Mike Lincoln. It will be the Reds' first visit to Kissimmee since 1997, when their spring base was still in Plant City.

Up next for the Pirates: The Pirates head out of town again on Saturday as they travel up to Tampa, Fla., to take on the Rays for this second time this spring at 1:05 p.m. ET. Lefty Zach Duke looks to continue his strong spring showing as he makes the start for the Pirates against Tampa Bay's J.P. Howell. Also scheduled to pitch for the Pirates are John Grabow, Burnett and Casey Fossum.