Jul 19, 2002 By Alan Robinson Ap Sports Writer 3 min read

PITTSBURGH – Jason LaRue hit a grand slam with two outs in the eighth inning after an intentional walk, capping a five-run burst that carried the Cincinnati Reds past the Pittsburgh Pirates 7-5 Thursday night. Even after LaRue homered, the Reds still needed left fielder Russell Branyan’s run-saving catch in Pittsburgh’s three-run eighth to wrap up their fourth victory in five games. They stayed 31/2 games behind St. Louis in the NL Central after the Cardinals beat San Francisco 5-1.

The Pirates got another strong start, this time from Kip Wells, only to be let down by a usually reliable bullpen that had allowed only two earned runs in 40 2-3 innings.

Pittsburgh led 2-1 going into the eighth but lost for the second time in eight games since the All-Star break.

Brian Boehringer (2-3), the Pirates’ fourth pitcher, quickly got into trouble by walking Aaron Boone and Adam Dunn to start the eighth. Austin Kearns struck out, but Branyan blooped a game-tying RBI double down the line that left fielder Brian Giles couldn’t run down.

Boehringer struck out pinch-hitter Barry Larkin for the second out. But after Boehringer intentionally walked Reggie Taylor to load the bases, LaRue homered into the left-field stands on a 2-1 pitch. It was his fifth homer of the season and his second career slam.

LaRue has five hits and eight RBIs in four games.

Scott Sullivan (6-3) got the victory despite allowing three runs in the eighth on consecutive singles by Aramis Ramirez, Rob Mackowiak and Kevin Young, Craig Wilson’s walk and Pokey Reese’s two-run single off Danny Graves.

With two outs and the potential go-ahead run on base, left fielder Branyan made a sliding catch of Chad Hermansen’s fly ball to end the eighth. Graves then finished for his 28th save in 34 chances, getting Mackowiak on a grounder with runners at second and third to end it.

Larkin added an RBI single in the ninth off Mike Lincoln that scored Kearns. Right fielder Mackowiak’s throw to the plate beat Kearns by two steps, but Kearns slid around catcher Jason Kendall’s tag.

Reds starter Jimmy Haynes limited the Pirates to three hits over six innings but left trailing 2-1 after allowing Jack Wilson’s two-run double in the sixth.

Wilson has 10 RBIs since the break after having only 20 in the first half of the season.

Wells, like Haynes a 10-game winner, similarly struggled at times with his control but benefitted from several standout defensive plays while limiting the Reds to one run over five innings. Taylor had a run-scoring single in the second.

NOTES: The Reds return home Friday night to play the New York Mets for the first time since April 22, 2001. The teams played six times early last season, but haven’t met since. … The Reds avoided falling 41/2 games out of the division lead for the first time this season. … The Reds are 37-19 against teams with records of .500 or below. … The Pirates had won three in a row. … Pirates pinch-hitters are hitless in 17 at-bats.