That's me » in the Welshman

CINCINNATI, Ohio -- The Pirates MVP saved them. Twice. Andrew McCutchen tied the game with a solo homer in the ninth inning Saturday night, then connected again in the 11th inning, rallying the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-5 victory over the Cincinnati Reds. "Strange game," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Its summertime. Strange things are happening." And some spectacular things from Pittsburghs best player. The Pirates blew a four-run lead for the second straight night, but managed to come back behind McCutchen, who has more homers against Cincinnati than anyone else since 2009. With two swings, he saved them from another discouraging meltdown. "Huge swings of the bat for us," Hurdle said. "Hes a special player." The National Leagues 2013 MVP tied it in the ninth off Jonathan Broxton, filling in the closers role because Aroldis Chapman had pitched four days in a row. He hit his 17th homer with two outs in the 11th off J.J. Hoover (1-7) for his ninth career multihomer game. "He does a lot of unreal stuff," said left-hander Justin Wilson (3-1), who escaped a threat in the 10th. "Hes an unbelievable player. Im glad Im on his team and I dont have to pitch against him." Wilson got out of a threat in the 10th with the help of right fielder Gregory Polanco, who threw Ramon Santiago out at the plate as he tried to score from second base on Jay Bruces single. "I cant take all the credit," McCutchen said. "Youve got to think of the throw from Polanco. That was a huge throw, a game-changer for us." McCutchen put the Pirates back ahead with a first-pitch homer off Hoover. "I was just ready to hit," he said. "It was a slider right down the middle, and I was ready to hit it." Jeanmar Gomez pitched the 11th for his first career save. "We know what they have over there," Bruce said. "A guy hits the tying and winning home runs -- you dont see that too often. Im perfectly happy with what we did tonight, except for losing." The Reds won the series opener 6-5 by rallying in the eighth inning against All-Star reliever Tony Watson, overcoming a four-run deficit. They pulled out of a four-run deficit again on Saturday but couldnt finish it off. McCutchen has 20 career homers against Cincinnati, the most by any player in the majors since 2009. Hes hit six of them this season, including three during the first two games of the series. The Reds slipped to 7-3 on their 11-game homestand, remaining 1 1/2 games behind NL Central co-leaders Milwaukee and St. Louis. Cincinnati is 8-4 against the Pirates this season. Pittsburgh is 2-4 on a trip to St. Louis and Cincinnati. The Pirates gave up two game-ending homers in St. Louis and blew a four-run lead in the series opener, a 6-5 Reds win. The Reds got in position to win it with a pair of homers. Chris Heisey batted for Mike Leake in the sixth and hit a two-run shot off Charlie Morton. Todd Frazier -- who will participate in the All-Star home run derby next week -- completed the comeback with a three-run shot off Morton, who had given up a total of six homers coming into the game. NOTES: All-Star Johnny Cueto (9-6) starts the final game of the series for Cincinnati. The Pirates plan to activate left-hander Francisco Liriano (1-6) off the disabled list. He has recovered from a strained oblique. ... McCutchen has hit safely in 11 of the 12 games against Cincinnati this season, going 20-for-47 with four doubles, six homers and eight RBIs. ... The Reds optioned reliever Curtis Partch, who got the win on Friday night, to Triple-A Louisville and brought up INF Neftali Soto, giving them four position players available on the bench. ... It was Heiseys eighth career pinch-hit homer, his second this season. China Shoes Black Friday . -- The Sacramento Kings and guard Jimmer Fredette have completed a buyout of his contract, clearing the way for the former BYU sensation to become a free agent. Wholesale Shoes Black Friday Free Shipping . The mixed zone is not a place to make friends. https://www.cheapshoesblackfriday.com/. - Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin has cleared league-mandated concussion protocol and has returned to practice as a full participant. Fake Shoes Black Friday . -- Washington Redskins linebacker Brian Orakpo is going to the Pro Bowl as a replacement for San Francisco 49ers linebacker Ahmad Brooks. Discount Shoes Black Friday .ca. The NHL Play of the Year showdown kicks off with some slick moves going head-to-head with a combination of soft hands and endless patience. MADRID, Spain -- Real Madrid forward Gareth Bale will miss Wednesdays Copa del Rey match after hurting his leg in practice. Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti says Bale received "a knock on his thigh and wont be available" for the match against third-division club Xativa Olimpic. The two teams drew 0-0 in the first leg. Ancelotti says Bale "didnt play well"t; in Madrids 2-2 draw at Osasuna in the Spanish league on Saturday, but that he has "complete confidence" in the Welshman.dddddddddddd Madrid will also be without defender Sergio Ramos. Ancelotti says he wont start Cristiano Ronaldo or Karim Benzema, once again relying on reserve players who failed to score against Olimpic in the opening leg. ' ' '