Reds 5, Pirates 4: Brandon Phillips homered and Ryan Ludwick drove in three runs as host Cincinnati held on to even the three-game series.

Phillips scored a pair of runs and Johnny Cueto tossed 7 2/3 solid innings for the Reds, who ended a five-game home losing streak against the Pirates.

Phillips got Cincinnati on the board with a leadoff blast in the second inning. Ludwick highlighted a four-run fourth with a three-run double and scored on Ryan Hanigan's single to make it 5-0.

The Pirates wouldn't fold, however, as they rallied for four runs in the eighth. Neil Walker began the comeback attempt with a two-out RBI single that ended the night for Cueto. Logan Ondrusek came on and watched Andrew McCutchen deposit his second pitch over the wall in right-center for a three-run homer.

But Sean Marshall recorded the final out of the inning and Aroldis Chapman struck out two in a perfect ninth for his sixth save in seven opportunities.

Cueto (6-3) allowed three runs and six hits with one walk and six strikeouts. The right-hander improved to 12-4 lifetime against Pittsburgh.

Brad Lincoln (3-1) was tagged for five runs and six hits over four innings in his second start of the season.

Walker recorded two hits for the Pirates, who lost for just the third time in 11 games at Cincinnati.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Reds CF Drew Stubbs is out indefinitely after injuring his left side in Tuesday's loss. ... Cincinnati recalled OF Kristopher Negron from Triple-A Louisville prior to the game and sent down IF Mike Costanzo, who went 1-for-18 with two RBIs in 17 games. Negron has yet to make his major-league debut. ... McCutchen's home run was Pittsburgh's eighth in three contests. ... Cincinnati 1B Joey Votto extended his hitting streak to 12 games with a single in the fourth inning.