PITTSBURGH -- Sean Rodriguez stepped to the plate looking to be aggressive.That approach paid off as he homered to open the bottom of the ninth inning, giving the Pittsburgh Pirates a 3-2 victory over the Cincinnati Reds on Friday night.When I try to be too passive, thats when I swing and miss a lot, Rodriguez said. When I take my swing, its because Im getting in my ready position and able to get my swing off. I was able to get a pitch I was able to get my swing off and hit it as good as I needed to.Rodriguez connected off Ross Ohlendorf (5-7), a 413-foot drive to the left-field bleachers that gave the Pirates just their second win in seven games in the midst of 12 straight games against teams who are at least 10 games under .500.It was Rodriguezs second career game-ending homer and his 11th home run of the season.Its another cool thing for him this year, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of the utility player. Hes done a lot of good things for us. Hes tough on himself. He expects a lot of good things to happen.The Reds tied the score 2-2 in the top of the ninth on pinch-hitter Ramon Cabreras sacrifice fly off Tony Watson (2-3), who blew his first save in two opportunities since All-Star closer Mark Melancon was traded to Washington last Saturday.Rodriguezs home run was the 23rd given up this season to the first batter a Reds reliever has faced.You can imagine how I feel about that at this point and Im going to walk away from it, Cincinnati manager Bryan Price. Im obviously very frustrated by it.Pirates rookie Jameson Taillon gave up only one run in six innings with six strikeouts and one walk in his fifth consecutive quality start. He has not factored in the decision in any of his five career home starts.Reds starter Anthony DeSclafani allowed two runs and two hits in six innings with six strikeouts and three walks, and has yet to lose in 11 starts this season. He began the season on the disabled list with a strained oblique before being activated June 10.The Pirates scored twice in the fifth inning to take a 2-1 lead as David Freese walked and John Jaso doubled before Francisco Cervelli hit a tying sacrifice fly. Jordy Mercer followed with a squeeze bunt to bring in the go-ahead run.DeSclafani allowed fewer than three runs for the eighth time in nine starts as the Reds, last in the NL Central, began a nine-game road trip.The Reds took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Brandon Phillips RBI single. He had two of Cincinnatis six hits and is 7 for 11 in his last three games.Slumping Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen returned to the lineup after being given a three-day mental break and went 0 for 2 with two strikeouts. The 2013 NL MVP is 1 for 14 in his last four games, dropping his batting average to .240.TRAINERS ROOMReds: RHP Alfredo Simon (strained right trapezius) and RHP A.J. Morris (strained right shoulder) are scheduled to begin rehabilitation assignments Sunday with Triple-A Louisville. ... SS Zack Cozart returned after missing the previous three games with a bruised right ring finger.Pirates: RF Gregory Polanco (left shoulder discomfort) was not in the lineup for a second straight game. ... C Cervelli returned after being hit the head Tuesday by a pitch and sitting out two games.UP NEXTReds: RHP Homer Bailey (1-0, 3.18 ERA), who underwent Tommy John elbow ligament reconstruction surgery last year, will make his second start of the season. He won at San Diego on Sunday, allowing two runs and 5 2/3 innings.Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (7-6, 4.90) will debut for his new team after being acquired Monday from the New York Yankees in a trade. He had spent his entire seven-year career with the Yankees. 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From filmmaker Nanette Burstein (On the Ropes), The Price of Gold revisits the saga that rocked the figure skating world ahead of the 1994 Lillehammer Olympic Winter Games: the assault on Nancy Kerrigan, and the plot that led its way back to her rival Tonya Harding.SANDY, Utah -- Chris Wondolowski is making a case that he should be included in the United States roster when World Cup qualifying resumes in September. Wondolowski -- with his jersey name spelled correctly this time -- scored two more goals to raise his total to five in two matches, and the Americans overcame a slow start to beat Cuba 4-1 Saturday and advance to the CONCACAF Gold Cup quarterfinals. He became the first American with five goals in one Gold Cup tournament. Landon Donovan tied the score late in the first half when converted his second penalty kick of the tournament for his 53rd international goal. Joe Corona got his first international goal early in the second, and Stuart Holden made his first start in nearly three years for the U.S. (2-0), which has reached the quarterfinals of all 12 Gold Cups. The US won its seventh straight game, tying a team record set in June 2007. While Wondolowski has led or tied Major League Soccer in goals for three straight seasons, he hadnt scored for the national team in 11 appearances before getting his first in an exhibition win over Guatemala on July 5. "Im very confident in my play," Wondolowski said. "Just even getting the goals is so huge. Im feeling more confident in my passing and in my touch and things like that where its helping me raise my level." Wondolowski scored a first-half hat trick in Tuesdays 6-1 win over Belize, when his jersey was misspelled "Wondowlowski." He started this match on the bench, then replaced Herculez Gomez in the 58th and scored the final two goals in the 66th and 85th minutes. Superstitious, the 30-year-old San Jose forward had an extra "W" stitched on the inside of his jersey. "Wondo is doing wonderful," U.S. coach Jurgen Klinsmann said. "Its just a joy to see him every day, in training and now getting his goals that he was waiting for such a long time for -- and now theyre coming. He was a bit disappointed when I told him that hes not coming off the start right away, but I told him We got to keep your goals for the second half, -- which he did." Wondolowski, Donovan and Holden all are making a case to be included in the player pool for World Cup qualifiers at Costa Rica on Sept. 6 and at home against Mexico four days later. "The benchmark for us now starts with Costa Rica," Klinsmann said. "Were looking forward to that match. We need now games where were eye-to-eye with the opponent." Donovan, a veteran of three World Cups hasnt played for the national team in 11 months before the Guatemala match because of injuries and a four-month sabbatical from soccer that ended in latee March.dddddddddddd Holden made his first start for the U.S. since an exhibition against Colombia on Oct. 12, 2010. A knee injury the following March sustained from a tackle by Manchester Uniteds Jonny Evans limited the Bolton midfielder to one club match in the next 22 months. The Americans, who have not won the North and Central American and Caribbean championship since 2007, complete the first round Tuesday against Costa Rica in East Hartford, Conn., then play their quarterfinal at Baltimore on July 21. Cuba, ranked 82nd by FIFA -- a full 60 spots behind the U.S. -- gave the Americans an unexpected test. Before a crowd of 17,597 at Rio Tinto Stadium, Jose Ciprian Alfonso put Cuba (0-2) ahead in the 36th minute. He beat defender Oguchi Onyewu to a cutback pass from Ariel Martinez, who has rounded left back Edgar Castillo near the end line. Ciprian Alfonso then sent a right-footed shot past goalkeeper Nick Rimando. Donovan tied the score in the second minute of stoppage time with a penalty kick, extending his U.S. scoring record. Corona finally gave the Americans lead in the 57th when he latched onto a loose ball and let loose a curling a shot from the edge of the penalty area. "We were trying to get a quick goal in the second half, so we could get that confidence back and try to play our game and try to get more goals," Corona said. Wondolowski made it 3-1 with his a close-range flick off a cross from Kyle Beckerman. He finished off the scoring from the centre of the penalty area. "Its such a huge honour, any time you put on that jersey, any time I see that jersey, it just gives me chills and I love being a part of it," Wondolowski said. NOTES: The Americans are 27-1-2 in the group phase of the Gold Cup, the only loss 2-1 to Panama two years ago. ... The U.S. improved to 8-1-1 against Cuba. .. Donovan has a Gold Cup-record 15 goals. ... Cuba is winless in 12 straight Gold Cup matches. ... Holden, Gomez, Castillo and Onyewu were among six changes. Tony Beltran took over at right back and Brek Shea started in midfield. Going to the bench along with Wondolowski were right back Michael Parkhurst, central defender Clarence Goodson, left back DaMarcus Beasley and midfielders Jose Torres and Mix Diskerud. Torres replaced Shea at the start of the second half and Diskerud took over for Holden in the 58th. ... A former youth player for Norway, Diskerud became tied to the U.S. team when he started against Belize. ... Onyewu was captain for the second time and first since the Colombia match three years ago. ... 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