CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Jeff Locke broke into a grin before taking any questions. "Happy to be back," the left-hander said. No ones happier than the Pittsburgh Pirates, who used their formula from a highly successful first half -- great pitching, just enough scoring -- to salvage the final game of their series with Cincinnati Reds on Sunday. Locke allowed only an infield single through six innings of a 3-2 victory. Second-place Pittsburgh left town with a three-game cushion over the NL Central-rival Reds, who won the first two games. "Theres still a lot of games left, but to get this final game is big," said Garrett Jones, who homered off Homer Bailey. "Every game matters." Locke (9-2) and the majors second-stingiest bullpen limited the Reds to three singles, but issued seven walks and let a run score on a wild pitch. Jason Grilli worked the ninth for his 30th save in 31 chances. His only blown save came in Cincinnati on June 19. Locke had to miss his last scheduled start and couldnt pitch in the All-Star game because of a sore back. There were no problems when he got back on the mound. "The back was great," Locke said. Bailey (5-9) struck out a career-high 12 but remained winless since his no-hitter against San Francisco at Great American Ball Park this month. Jones hit his second homer in two games, and the Pirates added a pair of runs in the seventh. "That was the best Ive ever seen Bailey," Jones said. "His velocity was up, his cutter was nasty and he was hitting his spots well." The Pirates hit six homers during the series, all solo shots. It underscored their main concern as trade talks intensify: Can they score enough runs to make the playoffs? "Im just one of the pieces that need to pick it up," said Jones, who has 10 homers after hitting a career-high 27 last year. "I had a slow first half and this is the time to hit and be productive and help your team win." The Ohio River rivals dont meet again until September, when they play each other six times in the last nine games. Both hope they have a lot at stake when they get back together -- the Reds trying for a second straight NL Central title, the Pirates trying to end their 20-year streak of losing records and reach the post-season for the first time since 1992. They came away from their weekend series bunched a bit closer in their chase of division-leading St. Louis. Bailey threw the first of his two no-hitters last Sept. 28 in Pittsburgh, a 1-0 win over a team he has dominated during his career. He threw his second no-hitter on July 2. Since then, hes started three games -- two on the road -- and gone 0-3 with a 5.50 ERA. Lockes performance was encouraging for the Pirates, who have stayed in contention despite injuries in the rotation. Shin-Soo Choos infield single in the first inning extended his hitting streak to a career-high 15 games. Locke walked a pair and threw a wild pitch that let in a run in the fifth inning. He lowered his ERA to 2.11. "What did he leave with, one hit?" manager Clint Hurdle said. "Thats good stuff." The Reds got another run in the eighth when Joey Votto grounded into a double play with the bases loaded against Mark Melancon, ending the relievers streak of 15 scoreless innings. It was Cincinnatis best chance to pull off the three-game sweep. "It hurts when you have opportunities like that," manager Dusty Baker said. "You hope youre going to blow it open." First baseman Gaby Sanchez, a late defensive replacement, started the double play, with Melancon covering first to take the relay and finish it. "Thats as good a double play as weve made all year in a tight situation," Hurdle said. Pittsburgh scored twice in the seventh on Jordy Mercers single and Jose Tabatas pinch-hit single off Bailey, who threw 121 pitches. NOTES: The Pirates continue their 10-game trip with the first of four games in Washington. The Reds begin an 11-game trip to San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego. Theyre in a stretch of playing 18 of 21 on the road. ... Bailey fanned 10 during his no-hitter in Pittsburgh and nine during his no-hitter against the Giants. ... The Reds plan to call up RHP Greg Reynolds from Triple-A Louisville to start one of their doubleheader games in San Francisco on Tuesday. Reynolds, a California native who played at Stanford, started 16 games for Colorado in 2008 and 2011. Nike Air Force 1 Australia .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6. Nike Air Force 1 Cheap Australia . The Olympic champion curler and TSN curling analyst immediately went online to look at the Halls long list of honoured members. Thats when the enormity of the honour sunk in. http://www.wholesalenikeairforce1australia.com/ . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Nike Air Force 1 Australia Cheap .com) - The red-hot Los Angeles Kings will try to extend their winning streak to a season-high seven games when they visit the Edmonton Oilers for Sundays clash at Rexall Place. Cheap Air Force Ones . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros.David Moyes has been charged with misconduct after he was sent to the stands during Sunderlands EFL Cup defeat at Southampton. Moyes was ordered from the dugout in the final moments of a 1-0 defeat on Wednesday for protesting referee Chris Kavanaghs decision not to award his side a penalty. Sland vs Arsenal October 29, 2016, 11:30am Live on Get Sky Sports Get a Sky Sports pass And the Scot must now answer a Football Association charge that he used abusive and/or insulting words towards a match official. Moyes has until 6pm on Tuesday to respond to the charge, but his immediate priority is immproving Sunderlands tally of just two points from nine Premier League games.dddddddddddd Watch NOW TV Watch Sky Sports for just £6.99. No contract. Arsenal visit the Stadium of Light on Saturday, live on Sky Sports, and Sunderlands preparations have already been disrupted after they were forced to stay in Southampton overnight.Thick fog meant a flight home was cancelled, and the players went through their recovery session at the team hotel on Thursday morning.You can watch Premier League football, plus Englands tour of Bangladesh and the Mexican Grand Prix on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy six months at half price! Also See: 33rd-time lucky for Rodwell Mersons predictions Key Battle: Defoe v Koscielny Mourinho charged by FA ' ' '