MLB
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Reds send Thompson to hill versus Pirates
(Sports Network) - Right-hander Daryl Thompson makes the third start of his major-league career tonight when the Cincinnati Reds host the Pittsburgh Pirates in the third and final game of the three-game National League Central Division series at Great American Ball Park.
The 22-year-old, an eighth-round draft pick of the Montreal Expos in 2003, debuted with five innings of scoreless ball in the Reds' 6-0 defeat of the New York Yankees in the Bronx on June 21.
He returned six days later and suffered his first loss, allowing eight hits and four runs in five innings of a 6-0 loss to the Cleveland Indians.
For the Pirates, former first-round draft pick John Van Benschoten makes his first start since a recent call-up from the minors.
He made four appearances with Pittsburgh between April 29 and May 12, then went back to Triple-A Indianapolis, where he toiled until last week when the Pirates put reliever Franquelis Osoria on the disabled list.
Benschoten made three relief appearances and a start in his initial stint, allowing 13 hits and eight earned runs in 7 2/3 innings while going 0-1.
He earned a win in his first game back on June 29, pitching one inning of scoreless relief in Pittsburgh's 4-3 defeat of Tampa Bay.
He has never faced the Reds.
On Tuesday, Jack Wilson and Nate McLouth used RBI hits in the 11th to help lift the Pirates to a 6-5 win over the Reds.
Wilson had three hits and a run scored, while Adam LaRoche had two hits and an RBI for Pittsburgh, which snapped a two-game skid. Matt Capps (2-3) picked up the win despite blowing his second consecutive save in as many nights.
Brandon Phillips was 3-for-5 with four runs batted in, including a two-run homer, while Jerry Hairston Jr. had two hits with an RBI for Cincinnati, which had a three-game winning streak snapped. David Weathers (2-4) took the loss by giving up two runs on three hits in the 11th.
Pittsburgh has won five of the eight encounters between these teams this season.
07/02 10:53:44 ET