By Kevin Kelly
The Cincinnati Enquirer

D'Angelo Jimenez's three-run home run was the difference in Thursday's game. (Gary Landers photo) | ZOOM |

With all the subtractions made by the Reds this season, it's easy to overlook the one addition that continues to benefit the team.

Considered a switch-hitting reserve infielder when Cincinnati acquired him in a July trade with the White Sox, D'Angelo Jimenez has turned out to be a fixture in the lineup.

The Reds second baseman hit a three-run homer in the sixth and turned a key double play in the eighth inning of a 3-2 win against the Pirates on Thursday at Great American Ball Park.

"He's come up with some big hits," Reds manager Dave Miley said. "He's done a hell of a job for us."

The victory, before 20,479 fans, gave the Reds a split with Pittsburgh in the four-game series.

Scott Randall pitched 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief for his second career win. Chris Reitsma got his eighth save.

The Reds won not only on the strength of Jimenez's home run, but the heady play of relief pitcher Phil Norton.

With Pirates first baseman Matt Stairs on first base and outfielder Reggie Sanders on third in the seventh inning and the Reds ahead 3-2, Norton wasn't fooled when Stairs tried to bait him into a pickoff throw.

Sanders was inching down the third-base line when Norton stepped off the pitching rubber and threw home to end the inning.

"As soon as Stairs came off I knew something was up," Norton said. "Out of the corner of my eye I saw Sanders creeping off. ... It's what you work on in the spring. I'm just glad I remembered how to do it."

The Pirates led 2-0 going into the bottom of the sixth inning.

Reds shortstop Ray Olmedo and third baseman Tim Hummel led off the inning with back-to-back drag bunts.

Jimenez, who flew out to the warning track in the fourth inning, followed with his home run to right field to put the Reds ahead.

"I thought about a bunt," Jimenez joked. "I just wanted to see a good pitch and hit it hard, not try to do too much. (Pirates starter Jeff D'Amico) threw me the same pitch that I missed in my second at-bat."

Jimenez's contract expires after this season and he is arbitration eligible. So the Reds, particularly whomever is hired as the permanent general manager, must decide whether they want to bring him back next season.

The 25-year-old is making $345,000 this season.

"I like everything here," said Jimenez, who has started 56 of 59 games since joining the Reds on July 8. "I think the group of guys we have is good and I feel comfortable here."

NEW APPROACH: After allowing 11 earned runs in his previous two starts, Danny Serafini tried a different strategy Thursday.

"I didn't try as hard this start," he said. "I've been trying so hard to impress people and get a job for next year that I think I put a little too much pressure on myself."

Serafini allowed two runs on eight hits and struck out a career-high seven batters in five innings.

"I just went out and threw strikes at 80 percent and stayed around the plate instead of walking people and getting myself into trouble the whole time," he said. "It worked out pretty good."

STILL HURTING: Pitcher Aaron Harang, who missed his last scheduled start because of lower back spasms, threw 20 pitches in the bullpen before the game.

He reported some stiffness in his back and will throw again today in Chicago if there is no pain.

IN REMEMBRANCE: To recognize the second anniversary of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, the Reds and Pirates wore miniature American flags on their hats.

The Reds also donated 100 tickets to 9-1-1 dispatchers from Hamilton County.

ODDS AND ENDS: The Reds announced after the game that they will not renew the contracts of scout Bip Roberts and special assistant Bob Zuk. ... Utility player Ryan Freel, who hasn't played since Sept. 2 because of a strained hamstring, accompanied the team on its road trip and could be ready to play by the end of the weekend.

Pittsburgh	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg.
Reboulet 2b-3b	5	0	0	0	0	1	.247
TRedman cf	5	0	2	0	0	0	.288
Kendall c	5	0	2	0	0	1	.326
RSanders rf	5	1	3	0	0	1	.283
CWilson 1b-lf	3	1	1	1	2	1	.268
Bay lf	3	0	1	0	0	2	.261
Stairs ph-1b	0	0	0	0	1	0	.297
Mackowiak 3b	4	0	2	0	0	2	.252
Lincoln p	0	0	0	0	0	0	---
JWilson ss	3	0	2	1	0	0	.252
D'Amico p	1	0	0	0	0	1	.140
Corey p	0	0	0	0	0	0	---
ANunez ph-2b	1	0	0	0	0	0	.250
Totals	35	2	13	2	3	9

Cincinnati	AB	R	H	BI	BB	SO	Avg.
Olmedo ss	4	1	1	0	0	1	.254
Hummel 3b	4	1	1	0	0	0	.200
DJimenez 2b	4	1	1	3	0	0	.301
Casey 1b	3	0	1	0	0	0	.288
Branyan lf	3	0	1	0	0	1	.224
WPena cf	2	0	0	0	0	0	.211
RMateo rf	3	0	0	0	0	1	.254
CMiller c	3	0	1	0	0	1	.231
Serafini p	1	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Stenson ph	1	0	0	0	0	1	.260
Randall p	0	0	0	0	0	0	---
PNorton p	1	0	0	0	0	1	.000
Reitsma p	0	0	0	0	0	0	.125
Totals	29	3	6	3	0	7

Pittsburgh	010	100	000	-2	13	0
Cincinnati	000	003	00x	-3	6	0

LOB-Pittsburgh 12, Cincinnati 3. 2B-TRedman (11), Kendall (27), Branyan (9). HR-DJimenez (6), off D'Amico; CWilson (16), off Serafini. RBIs-CWilson (43), JWilson (52), DJimenez 3 (25). SB-RSanders 2 (15). CS-RSanders (4). S-D'Amico 2. SF-JWilson. GIDP-ANunez, RMateo.

DP-Pittsburgh 1 (Mackowiak, Reboulet and CWilson); Cincinnati 1 (Olmedo, DJimenez and Casey).

Pittsburgh	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
D'Amico L, 8-15	6	6	3	3	0	4	91	4.64
Corey	1	0	0	0	0	2	15	4.03
Lincoln	1	0	0	0	0	1	9	5.74

Cincinnati	IP	H	R	ER	BB	SO	NP	ERA
Serafini	5	8	2	2	2	7	86	6.27
Randall W, 2-1	1 2/3	2	0	0	0	2	27	4.50
PNorton H, 2	1 1/3	1	0	0	1	0	16	4.50
Reitsma S, 8	1	2	0	0	0	0	13	4.04

Inherited runners-scored-PNorton 1-0.

IBB-off Serafini (CWilson) 1. HBP-by D'Amico (WPena).

T-2:32. A-20,479 (42,263).