PITTSBURGH -- Pirates catcher Russell Martin didnt start Thursdays game. J.J. Wilcox Jersey . Rather, he ended it. Martin drew a bases-loaded walk off Tony Cingrani with two outs in the 12th inning and Pittsburgh beat the Cincinnati Reds 4-3 to avoid a three-game sweep. Cingranis first pitch buzzed in low around the ankles of Martin, who drew boos from those left in attendance for not letting the ball hit him to score the winning run. "I did wonder maybe if I wouldve got hit the game would be over," Martin said. "But when its at your feet you just react, and I just reacted." Later, Cingranis 3-1 pitch caught what Reds manager Bryan Price thought was a part of the strike zone established during the games proceedings. Instead, it was ball four. "Im not saying we would have won this game," Price said. "But it certainly didnt give us an opportunity to go out there and compete in the 13th." Cingrani (2-8) took the loss after he gave up a single to Gaby Sanchez, balked him to second, intentionally walked Josh Harrison and hit Clint Barmes with a pitch to load the bases. Martin entered the game in the 10th and wound up walking twice. Justin Wilson (2-0) retired the Reds in order in the top of the 12th. Devin Mesoraco hit a solo homer in the Reds ninth off Jason Grilli, who blew his fourth save in 15 chances this season. Grilli gave up a home run for the second time in three days, and has allowed four in 20 games this year. He gave up four homers in 54 appearances last season. Billy Hamilton led off the game with a double against Jeff Locke, stole third and scored on a sacrifice fly by Joey Votto to put the Reds ahead 1-0. Votto doubled and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jay Bruce for a 2-0 lead in the fourth. Locke settled down though and worked six innings in which he allowed two runs on six hits and a walk. Gregory Polanco opened the fourth with a single for Pittsburghs first runner against Homer Bailey and the Pirates later scored three times in the fifth. With runners at the corners and Polanco at the plate, Bailey went through his pitching motion but did not release the ball and was called for a balk. ""It was one of those deals where youre thinking more about not falling than throwing the ball," Bailey said. "My back foot slipped out from me then I land on the side of my other the foot, so it was a circus all the way around. I was just trying not to fall backward." Pirates manager Clint Hurdle offered that the call may have helped his hitters gain some traction against Bailey after he started with three perfect frames. "I think that the balk call might have leaked in a little bit," Hurdle said. "Whether it rattled him, I dont know, hes a pro." Polanco, Starling Marte and Andrew McCutchen followed with singles that scored two runs for a 3-2 Pittsburgh lead. "They hit some balls off the end of the bat, had some balls fall in," Bailey said. Price pulled Bailey in the sixth and as reliever Sam LeCure took his warmup pitches, heavy rain began to fall and there was a 35-minute delay. The Pirates twice put runners in scoring position after Mesoracos tying homer. McCutchen struck out looking at an offspeed offering from Aroldis Chapman in the ninth with runners at first and second. Marte struck out swinging in the 11th in the same situation. NOTES: Polancos single in the fourth extended his hitting streak to nine games, the longest by any Pirates player to begin a major league career. ... Barmes finished with his first four-hit game since May 30, 2009. ... RHP Charlie Morton (4-7, 3.09) opposes Cubs RHP Edwin Jackson (4-7, 5.11) on Friday afternoon as the Pirates open a three-game series at Wrigley Field. ... RHP Mat Latos (0-0, 0.00) is slated to make his second start of the season when the Reds return home to face RHP R.A. Dickey (6-5, 4.08) and the Toronto Blue Jays. Jeff Heath Jersey . - The Washington Wizards are in a great position to make the playoffs for the first time in six years, and John Wall has a lot to do with it. Doug Free Jersey . Its been a successful Games for Canada, which will finish near the top of the medal standings again. From repeat gold medal winners to multiple medal winners to undefeated teams to acts that define the Olympic spirit, there are many solid candidates who could be considered to receive the honour.With two thrilling wins on Friday, the eighth-seeded Kentucky Wildcats and second-seeded Michigan Wolverines kept their championship dreams alive, and will now square off in the Midwest Region final on Sunday evening. Watch Kentucky vs. Michigan live on TSN at 5pm et/2pm pt. The winner will move on to the Final Four, a place both squads are very familiar, to battle Wisconsin next Saturday. Kentucky used a determined second-half comeback to down intrastate rival Louisville on Friday night. The Wildcats trailed until the final minutes of regulation, where they grabbed a slim lead and held on to advance. It was the opposite story for Michigan, which played Tennessee in the Sweet 16 two days ago. The Wolverines held a large advantage throughout the contest, but the Volunteers kept chipping away until it was a one-possession game. Michigan didnt let Tennessee complete the comeback though, thus setting up this showdown with the Wildcats. Kentucky leads the all-time series between these two programs, 4-2. The last time the squads met, Michigan pulled out an 81-78 overtime victory back in 1993. John Caliparis Wildcats struggled to find their identity this season, especially down the stretch. But the young squad, made up of mostly freshman and sophomores, got hot at the perfect time, and has beaten teams like defensive powerhouse Kansas State, top-seeded and previously unbeaten Wichita State, and defending national champion Louisville in this tournament. It was a gritty performance versus the Cardinals on Friday, and required some skillful free-throw shooting, particularly in the second half when they went 14-of-16 at the stripe. Freshman star Julius Randle provided yet another double-double in the win, notching 15 points to go with a team-best 12 rebounds. Dakari Johnson and Aaron Harrison each tallied 15 points in the win, and Andrew Harrison tacked on 14 for the Wildcats. Some Louisville foul trouble also helped Kentucky, as Montrezl Harrell and Stephan Van Treese both exited for the Cards after fouling out late. On a team that has a roster full of potential, but very little experience, Randle has stood out as not only a top NBA prospect, but as the teams leader and go-to scorer. Tyrone Crawford Jersey. He averages a double-double heading into this game, netting 15.1 ppg while bringing down a team-high 10.7 rpg. His .708 free-throw percentage was a big help down the stretch against Louisville. James Young, who fouled out against the Cardinals, is second on the team in scoring with 14.1 ppg, although Aaron Harrison is also averaging 14.1 ppg. His twin brother Andrew Harrison checks in with 11.1 ppg, adding a team-best 144 assists to his stat line. As a team, UK is putting up 75.4 ppg while allowing 66.5 ppg. At one point, Michigan held a 15-point lead in the second half before Tennessee mounted its comeback attempt. The Vols climbed to within one with six seconds left, but Michigans Jordan Morgan drew a foul, which gave the Wolverines a chance to create a bit more separation. Thanks to four players who scored in double figures, the Wolverines were able to fend off the surging Vols, whose Cinderella-like run came to an end in the Sweet 16. Morgan appropriately led the team in scoring with 15 points, adding a team- high seven rebounds in the process. Nik Stauskas had a below-average day shooting (5-of-12 from the field, 3-of-8 from 3-point range), but still chipped in 14 points in the win. Glenn Robinson III added 13 points for Michigan, and Caris LeVert contributed 10 with five assists. As a team, the Wolverines hit 55.1 percent of their total shots. With his 14-point effort on Friday, Stauskas saw his team-leading scoring average take a slight dip. He still nets 17.3 ppg, also adding team-bests in 3-point shooting percentage (.448) and assists (115). Robinson III checks in at second on the roster in scoring with his 13.1 ppg, and LeVert adds 13 ppg. Imagine what the Wolverines would be capable of if they had a healthy Mitch McGary, although Morgan has been nothing less than stellar in this tournament playing the role of the teams big man. Morgan averages a team-high in rebounding (5 rpg), and nets a club-best 69.4 percent of his field goal attempts. As a team, the Wolverines are scoring 74 ppg while giving up 64.8 ppg. cheap nfl jerseys ' ' '
