Lastings Milledge’s ground ball single to center field concluded a two-out ninth inning rally that carried the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 4-3 win over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday.

Millegde’s hit off Nick Masset (2-1), following an Andrew McCutchen single and uncontested steal of second, allowed the Pirates to salvage the victory despite the fact their bullpen surrendered a 3-0 lead after seven innings.

Pittsburgh starter Zach Duke began the eighth inning with a shutout, but after allowing a walk to Drew Stubbs, was lifted. The move failed as three relievers combined to walk four more Reds hitters, making the score 3-2.

Chris Dickerson’s pinch-hit triple and Orlando Cabrera’s sacrifice fly off Pirates closer Octavio Dotel (1-0) in the ninth then tied the score, setting up the exciting conclusion.

The Bucs manufactured their first two runs in the bottom of the first inning on a rare sacrifice-fly double play from Garrett Jones, as Milledge was thrown out trying to advance to second on the fly ball to left fielder Jonny Gomes.

Iwamura’s two-out RBI single in the second accounted for the Pirates other run, but Reds starter Mike Leake then settled down for the rest of his seven inning stint.