PITTSBURGH — Pirates starter Tony McKnight was battling a head cold that sapped his strength and wound up helping him.

        “I tend to overthrow the ball at times and I couldn't do that tonight,” McKnight said after holding the Reds to one run in 6 1/3 innings. “Maybe for my next start I should go out and run five miles before I pitch.”

        McKnight (3-3) gave up six hits, struck out six and walked none. He is 2-3 since the Pirates acquired him from Houston on July 31 for reliever Mike Williams.

        “He did pretty well,” Pirates manager Lloyd McClendon said. “He wasn't 100 percent physically so he didn't have his greatest stuff but he battled through it.”

        Omar Olivares got four outs for his fourth career save, his first since June 30, 1994, for St. Louis against Colorado. Pittsburgh won four of five for the first time since July 2-6.

        The choice of Olivares to close was no accident. Olivares failed as a starter but has been effective recently out of the bullpen. The Pirates need a closer, and McClendon thinks Olivares might be someone to consider.

        “I wanted to see him in that situation,” McClendon said. “We need to find some things out for next year and we're not going to leave any stone unturned.”

        Pirates Notes: Matthews Jr. robbed pinch-hitter Robin Jennings of an extra-base hit in the seventh. Matthews leaped and snared Jennings' drive, which was less than a foot from the top of the center-field wall. ... Matthews snapped a 0-for-17 streak with a single in fourth.

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