PITTSBURGH -- Everyone was hitting for the Reds on Wednesday -- seriously, everyone.The Reds churned out nine hits in the first four innings, one hit each by each batter in the starting lineup. They totaled 14 knocks and routed the Pirates, 11-4, to pull their record to .500 (34-34) for the first time since they were 1-1 on April 2.In a game that featured a one-hour, 15-minute rain delay in the seventh inning, the majority of the damage came in a station-to-station carousel of a third inning when Cincinnati scored seven times -- a season best for one frame. 
Nine straight batters reached base against Pirates starter and former Red Edinson Volquez. Six got aboard via singles, Brandon Phillips had an RBI double and there was one walk and one hit batter.Even Reds pitcher Alfredo Simon had a hit, albeit a controversial one. With the bases loaded, Simon hit a soft grounder to the left of the pitcher's mound, and Devin Mesoraco appeared to be thrown out on a force play. However, the play went under an umpire review and it was determined Russell Martin violated Rule 7.13, which states a catcher may not block the pathway of the runner unless he has possession of the ball.The overturning shocked and angered the PNC Park crowd and everyone in a Pirates uniform, including manager Clint Hurdle, who was ejected for arguing by crew chief Jerry Layne. Somewhat lost in the fallout of the ruling was that it gave Simon an RBI single, and the bases were still loaded for Billy Hamilton. The speedy outfielder promptly struck a two-run single -- the final punch of the third-inning onslaught.Simon gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking three en route to becoming the first National League pitcher to hit the 10-win plateau.On a night when the offense was pretty evenly dispersed, Skip Schumaker (two hits and three RBIs) and Hamilton (three hits, three RBIs) stood out.The Reds' cumulative performance came on the heels of their offensive surge Sunday against the Brewers, in which they scored 13 runs on 19 hits, both season highs.Cincinnati's bats have been more in sync since first baseman Joey Votto returned from the disabled list last week. The Reds have won six of seven, scoring an average of 6.7 runs per game in that span.Stephen Pianovich / MLB.com
Nine straight batters reached base against Pirates starter and former Red Edinson Volquez. Six got aboard via singles, Brandon Phillips had an RBI double and there was one walk and one hit batter.Even Reds pitcher Alfredo Simon had a hit, albeit a controversial one. With the bases loaded, Simon hit a soft grounder to the left of the pitcher's mound, and Devin Mesoraco appeared to be thrown out on a force play. However, the play went under an umpire review and it was determined Russell Martin violated Rule 7.13, which states a catcher may not block the pathway of the runner unless he has possession of the ball.The overturning shocked and angered the PNC Park crowd and everyone in a Pirates uniform, including manager Clint Hurdle, who was ejected for arguing by crew chief Jerry Layne. Somewhat lost in the fallout of the ruling was that it gave Simon an RBI single, and the bases were still loaded for Billy Hamilton. The speedy outfielder promptly struck a two-run single -- the final punch of the third-inning onslaught.Simon gave up three runs in 6 1/3 innings while striking out five and walking three en route to becoming the first National League pitcher to hit the 10-win plateau.On a night when the offense was pretty evenly dispersed, Skip Schumaker (two hits and three RBIs) and Hamilton (three hits, three RBIs) stood out.The Reds' cumulative performance came on the heels of their offensive surge Sunday against the Brewers, in which they scored 13 runs on 19 hits, both season highs.Cincinnati's bats have been more in sync since first baseman Joey Votto returned from the disabled list last week. The Reds have won six of seven, scoring an average of 6.7 runs per game in that span.Stephen Pianovich / MLB.com
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