PITTSBURGH -- A.J. Burnett walked into the Pittsburgh Pirates dugout after falling two runs down to the Cincinnati Reds in the second inning Saturday night when his catcher decided it was time for a little pep talk. "I told him Thats all were giving up today and he said Yes sir," Russell Martin said. "Thats his attitude. If you give up a couple, its not the end of the world. If you give up a couple, youve got to keep going out there, keep grinding." Something the veteran ace and his resilient club do better than just about anyone else in baseball. A night after a stunning ninth-inning collapse, Pittsburgh responded behind Burnett, who scattered four hits in seven strong innings to lift the Pirates to a 4-2 win and a one-game lead over the Reds for the top spot in the NL wild-card race. "Go out, its a big game, its a big series, you want to attack," Burnett said. "We were able to do that and get through seven somehow. I felt like I got stronger as it went on." Burnett struck out a season-high 12 against three walks and became the first right-hander in the 126-year history of the franchise to top 200 strikeouts in a season when he fanned Joey Votto in the sixth. "I was just focused, I was locked in," Burnett said. "It was probably the best command of that hook Ive had in a long time. I had a put-away pitch tonight, and its lot different when you have those." Jason Grilli worked the ninth for his 31st save, his first since going to the disabled list with a strained right forearm in July. Martin slugged a two-run homer, and Jose Tabata added two hits for the Pirates. Zack Cozart hit his 12th home run of the season for Cincinnati, and Ryan Ludwick added an RBI but Homer Bailey (11-11) lost his first decision since July 26. "The story of the game is we didnt score enough runs," Reds manager Dusty Baker said. "We just couldnt get much going against (Burnett). We got some runs early, then he settled down." The Reds rallied for a 6-5 win in 10 innings on Friday, turning three unearned runs in the ninth and Vottos solo homer in the 10th into a tie with the Pirates in the race for home field in the wild card round. It was the second gut-punch loss by the Pirates in three days. In danger of falling behind the Reds in the standings for the first time in since June 20, Pittsburgh reduced its magic number to three behind Burnett and a bullpen that regained its composure after a pair of potentially confidence-shaking meltdowns. Reliever Justin Wilson induced a double play to get out of the eighth, and Grilli -- an All-Star this summer after racking up 29 saves in the seasons first half -- looked like his old self while working around Ludwicks leadoff single in the ninth. "Im just a competitor," Grilli said. "I want the ball. I want to participate. Watching these guys do it for so long made me want to come back and do it with him. It was a big win, obviously, and a lot of fun to be out there." Bailey wasnt quite as sharp. Making his first start at PNC Park since throwing a no-hitter at the Pirates last September, Bailey was solid but not spectacular. An off night by Cincinnatis typically reliable defence didnt help. Alvarez reached with two outs in the third when Votto mishandled a slow chopper to first. Martin followed by taking a fastball from Bailey and sending it into the bleachers in left field to tie it at 2. Pittsburgh broke the tie in the sixth. Andrew McCutchen walked with one out and sprinted to third when Baileys attempted pickoff throw slipped past Votto and rolled to the wall. Justin Morneau walked to put runners on the corners, and Marlon Byrd hit a sacrifice to deep centre field to give the Pirates the lead. Bailey gave up four runs, two earned, and three hits with four walks and three strikeouts. "The loss is on me," Bailey said. "I had the throwing error at first base, I didnt execute very well, I made a couple of bad pitches. (The offence) gave me a couple of runs to work with early and I didnt take advantage of it. I gave them all back and then some." Reliever Zach Duke -- who spent six years in Pittsburgh during the clubs two-decade losing streak -- came on after Byrds sacrifice fly and immediately surrendered an RBI single to Alvarez that gave the Pirates a two-run cushion. NOTES: Cincinnati CF Shin-Soo Choo sat out after injuring his right hand while sliding into first base on Friday. Baker said he wasnt sure when Choo will return. ... Cincinnati rookie OF Billy Hamilton will make his second start of the season on Sunday. The base stealing specialist went 3 for 4 with four stolen bases in his previous start against Houston on Wednesday. ... The series concludes on Sunday when Pittsburghs Jeff Locke (10-6, 3.27 ERA) faces Cincinnatis Bronson Arroyo (13-11, 3.56). ht... . -- Running backs Darren McFadden and Rashad Jennings were back at practice for the Oakland Raiders on Wednesday despite being hampered by hamstring injuries. [url=http://www.baseballdiamondbacksshop.com/a-j-pollock-diamondbacks-jersey/]A. J. Pollock Jersey . PETERSBURG, Fla. ht... . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. BARCELONA, Spain -- Cristiano Ronaldo scored a double and set up another goal for Real Madrid in a 4-1 comeback win over Getafe on Sunday in the Spanish league, as new teammate Gareth Bale couldnt make his home debut after injuring his leg before the match. Bale was dropped from Madrids starting lineup minutes before the match after the clubs medical staff examined his left thigh during warm-ups at the Santiago Bernabeu Stadium. The club said it was for "precaution" and that he would undergo tests Monday. Things only got worse for Madrids disappointed fans when Getafe forward Angel Lafita opened the scoring in the fifth minute. But Pepe scored from a rebound in the 19th before Ronaldo converted a penalty in the 33rd, set up Francisco "Isco" Alarcon in the 59th, and added another goal in injury time after Getafe had been reduced to 10 men. "Overall we played a good game. We were unlucky to start a goal behind, but I think our reaction was good," said Madrids first-year Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti. "Sometimes we play too far back in defence, but piano piano we are improving." Madrid remained undefeated through five rounds and is in third place in the standings, two points behind Barcelona and Atletico Madrid. Villarreal also stayed unbeaten in its return to Spains top flight after drawing 0-0 at Celta Vigo. The same lack of finishing touch condemned Real Betis to a 0-0 finish against visiting Granada, leaving both teams with one win. Valencia enjoyed a much-needed 3-1 victory at home over Sevilla, breaking a four-game losing streak that included a 3-0 defeat to Swansea in the Europa League on Thursday. Brazilian forward Jonas scored twice for Valencia, netting in the 32nd and then again in the 73rd after Kevin Gameiro had levelled for Sevilla in the 52nd. Substitute Victor Ruiz headed in Valencias last goal in the 82nd and sparked the same Mestalla crowd that had protested after the Swansea loss into chants of "Yes! Thats the way!" Valencia president Amadeo Salva said after the match that new coach Miroslav Djukic will finish out the season "no matter what happens." The result left Unai Emerys Sevilla winless and in last place.dddddddddddd Ronaldos 208th and 209th career goals for Madrid in 205 games moved him ahead of Hugo Sanchez as the clubs fifth all-time leading scorer. Raul Gonzalez holds the record with 323 goals. Ronaldo has scored seven goals in his last four games in all competitions for Madrid. If losing Bale for what was supposed to be his highly-anticipated first game in front of Madrids fans wasnt a big enough blow, Carlo Ancelottis side soon fell behind to their modest crosstown rivals. After Ronaldo had squandered back-to-back scoring chances, the Portugal forward lost the ball and Getafe struck when Lafitas resulting shot took a deflection off Pepe before landing in the net. But Ronaldo helped Madrid level when he drew a save from goalkeeper Miguel Moya, with the rebound falling for Pepe to tap in. Ronaldo put Madrid in front by driving a low spot kick just inside the post after Getafes Miguel "Michel" Marcos blocked his free kick with his arm inside the area. Ronaldos quickly taken free kick left Isco alone in the area to curl in his fourth goal in the league play. "It didnt matter that Bale wasnt there, Isco took his place," said Getafe coach Luis Garcia. "All their players are good. With Madrid you cant talk about them missing players." Getafe played the final five minutes with 10 men after Michel was sent off with a direct red card for fouling Jese Rodriguez with only Moya to beat. Ronaldo, who had clipped the post in the 79th, got his well-earned brace when he used a brazen back-heeled shot with his right boot to redirect Sami Khediras cross into the net. Madrid paid Tottenham a world-record 100 million euros ($132 million) for Bale at the close of the summer transfer market. Ancelotti said Bales injury didnt appear to be serious. "(Bale) wasnt comfortable or calm. I preferred to prevent any problems," said Ancelotti. "He isnt happy because he was very excited to play in the Bernabeu." The next chance Madrids fans will have to see Bale at home will be next Saturday against Atletico Madrid in the Spanish capital derby. 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