Ryan Ludwick News

The Pirates are riding a hot streak just in time for a big-time National League Central showdown this week with the first-place Reds.

Reds 5, Yankees 2 : Johnny Cueto pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Ryan Ludwick delivered two big hits and Cincinnati closed its extended trip to New York with a win.

Johnny Cueto pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Ryan Ludwick delivered two big hits and the Cincinnati Reds closed out their extended visit to New York by beating the Yankees 5-2 Sunday.

Johnny Cueto pitched effectively into the eighth inning, Ryan Ludwick delivered two big hits and the Cincinnati Reds closed out their extended visit to New York by beating the Yankees 5-2 Sunday.

When Reds' General Manager Walt Jocketty inked his St. Louis boy Ryan Ludwick back in February, it was assumed Chris Heisey would see most of the action in left field - unless Walt's heyday guy, Ludwick, produced numbers circa 2008.

Dusty Baker is holding the Cincinnati Reds back with his constant mismanagement.

Cincinnati Reds catcher Devin Mesoraco, left, waits as Pittsburgh Pirates' Neil Walker trots home to greetings from teammate Jose Tabata after hitting a two-run home run off Cincinnati Reds pitcher Mike Leake in the third inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh Saturday, May 5, 2012.

And most of the trends are on the positive side of the ledger. Take last night's game for example.