Mar 2, 2007 2 min read

BRADENTON, Fla. (AP) – Josh Hamilton’s drive didn’t just clear the fence. It sailed over the flags above the batter’s backdrop, roughly 50 feet high and beyond the 400-foot mark in center. Hamilton’s seventh-inning home run was the highlight of the Cincinnati Reds’ 9-7 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Thursday, the exhibition opener for both teams.

“We were talking about that wind in batting practice,” Hamilton said. “This is a pretty tough place for pitchers in any condition, but a wind like that makes it almost crazy.”

Hamilton sounded excited about his drive.

“That might be the farthest I’ve ever hit a ball,” he said.

Brandon Phillips and Mark Bellhorn each hit two-run home runs in the fifth inning off Pittsburgh closer Salomon Torres, who allowed four hits and a walk in one inning.

Luis Matos homered twice for the Pirates, and top prospect Andrew McCutchen homered and doubled in his first two at-bats. Matos is in camp on a minor-league contract and could earn a backup job.

“It feels good to be able to contribute right away, to make a case for myself,” Matos said. “If I stay healthy, I know what I can do. I feel good.”

Cincinnati starter Eric Milton gave up six hits and a walk in two innings, but only two runs – on home runs by McCutchen in the first and Matos in the second. He stranded four runners.

Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke pitched two innings and gave up his only hit on Dunn’s homer.

The Pirates trailed 9-5 in the ninth. With bases loaded and one out, Javier Guzman bounced into a run-scoring forceout and Rajai Davis hit an RBI double. Guzman was thrown out at the plate for the final out.

Cincinnati made five errors.