Adam Dunn watches his 3-run home run off Pirates pitcher Joe Beimel in the 7th inning. (Greg Ruffing photo) | ZOOM |

        CINCINNATI — Every time first place starts to slip away, the Cincinnati Reds find a way to snatch it back.

        Adam Dunn hit a three-run homer in the seventh inning as the Reds again played home run derby between the raindrops and rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 4-3 on Saturday night.

        Brian Giles and Craig Wilson hit solo shots that put the Pirates ahead before another long rain delay in the fifth, but Dunn's homer completed a four-run rally that let the Reds extend their 50-day hold on first place.

        They're proud of the streak and determined to keep it going.

        “That's important,” Dunn said. “It's going to help in the long run. We hope this jump starts us and we can play a lot better. Maybe we can put a little distance between us.”

        In each of the first two games of the series, the NL Central leaders have relied on homers to come from behind and retain their one-game lead over St. Louis. The Reds have been alone in first place since April 26.

        They're also proud of another statistic: a 15-6 record in one-run games, best in the NL.

        “We were down 2-0 during the rain delay and we said, 'This is our game, we're going to come back and win this one,”' first baseman Sean Casey said. “That's been a huge thing for us, the one-run games. We've had a lot of them and found ways to win them.”

        The Ohio River rivals have combined for nine homers in the series, accounting for 12 of the 14 runs. Seven of the homers have been solo shots.

        Aaron Boone beat the Pirates with solo homers in the ninth and 11th innings of a rain-delayed, 4-3 win Friday night, when the Reds hit four solo homers in all.

        This time, Giles dropped Barry Larkin's sinking liner to left for an error that let Todd Walker score, and Dunn hit his 14th homer with two outs off a full-count pitch from Joe Beimel for a 4-2 lead.

        “It was a hanging slider,” Beimel said. “I was just trying to throw a strike at 3-2. I got it a little up and in the middle of the plate and it stayed up.”

        The homer provided an upbeat ending to a tough night for Dunn, who suffered a gash below the right knee when he ran into the wall in the fourth inning trying to catch Giles' homer. The former University of Texas quarterback got 10 stitches during the rain delay.

        “That really didn't hurt at all,” said Dunn, who also had a welt on his right calf from a pickoff throw and one on his left calf from a foul ball.

        Notes: The Pirates' 13 rain delays this season have totaled 16 hours, 37 minutes. ... Wells hasn't given up a homer since April 28, a span of nine starts and 61 1-3 innings. ... Pirates 2B Pokey Reese, booed loudly once again in his former ballpark, went 1-for-4, extending his hitting streak to eight games (13-for-32). ... Wilson has started each of the last seven games in right field and gone 12-for-29 with three homers. ... Reds RHP Jose Rijo, on the 15-day DL with a tired shoulder, is scheduled to resume throwing off the mound in 10 days. ... In his last three starts, Hamilton has gone 0-3 and given up 15 runs in 14 1-3 innings, including four homers — one of them a grand slam by David Eckstein. ... Larkin doubled in the fifth, extending his best hitting streak of the season to 10 games (13-for-43).

Reds 4, Pirates 3 Reds box, runs Reds clinging to first by any means necessary Reds Q&A Reds setup men share spotlight Well-traveled Chen happy to hit Cincinnati Inherited difference Legendary workhorse Marshall develops a better plan Marshall's mark has impact on Sullivan Cinergy Moment No. 23 - Sept. 7, 1974 On the farm Norfolk 4, Louisville 3, 10 innings Green homers in 4th straight at-bat Interleague roundup Notes from Saturday's games John Fay's MLB rankings

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