Pirates 9, Reds 1 -- sweep complete

A very bad end to a very bad series.

"There ain't a whole bunch to say," Dusty Baker said. "We got our butts kicked."

It was the first three-game sweep of the Reds by Pirates since July of 2003.

Johnny Cueto's day: 6 IP, 5 hits, 5 runs, 1 walk, 6 Ks. He's was OK right up to the point that Xaiver Nady took him deep with two outs in the sixth.

When we asked Paul Bako about Cueto, he asked: "What was his line?"

He was given it.

"Other than the pitch to Nady, he pitched pretty well -- better than his line indicates as far as runs."

The Nady home run came in the sixth -- Cueto's first ugly inning in three starts. Leadoff double to Nate McLouth. An out. Jason Bay reached on an infield single. Ryan Doumit sac fly. Nady goes deep to left.

Todd Coffey gave up a four spot in the seventh. A three-run homer from Bay put the game one one ice.

And the Reds alleged offense? Nine left on base, 1-for-8 with runners in scoring position. For the series, they left 32 on base and were 6-for-35 (.171) with runners in scoring position. Four runs in three games.