PITTSBURGH -- A single strike from falling two games behind the Pittsburgh Pirates in the race for the top spot in the National League wild-card race, the Cincinnati Reds needed a break. Jordy Mercer provided one. The surging Reds took care of the rest. A wild throw by the Pittsburgh shortstop with two outs in the ninth inning opened the door for a three-run rally off Pirates closer Mark Melancon that tied the game. Joey Vottos home run off Kyle Farnsworth an inning later won it as the Reds pulled off an improbable 6-5 victory to move into a tie with the Pirates. Both teams are two games behind St. Louis for the lead in the NL Central. "Thats really uncommon, really rare, and for us to have done that in a game like this, against this squad, against that pitcher, that makes it even more rare and pretty impressive," Votto said. "Guys just strung together a bunch of tough at-bats." Ones that came after Mercer couldnt quite handle a slow grounder by Todd Frazier with one on and two outs in the ninth. Mercer charged the ball but couldnt get a grip on it and it ended up in the stands behind first base. "If I make a good throw right there, the game is over and all the stuff that happened never happens," Mercer said. "It was tough. We played a great game, everybody played a great game and to have it happen like that, its just a bad throw." And the Pirates quickly unraveled. Zach Cozart singled after Mercers error to put runners on the corners. Cincinnati rookie base-stealing specialist Billy Hamilton pinch ran for Cozart and promptly swiped second then raced home when Devin Mesoraco ended a nine-pitch duel with Melancon by sending a sharp grounder that bounced off third baseman Pedro Alvarez and rolled onto the grass in shallow left field. "I really just went up there and just thought about battling ..." Mesoraco said. "That was it. That was my only goal, just go up there, battle, battle, and hopefully leave one out over the plate that I could put a half-decent swing on and hopefully find a hole." Melancon has been dominant since taking over the closers role from Jason Grilli in July, but blew his second save in three days. San Diego rallied for a 3-2 win on Wednesday. This one, however, will almost certainly be more difficult to overcome. "Thats a game we should have won and I think the Reds know that too," Melancon said. JJ Hoover (5-5) earned the win for the Reds, who have won four straight. Aroldis Chapman worked the 10th for his 38th save. Farnsworth (1-1) retired Brandon Phillips to start the 10th but left fielder Starling Marte couldnt quite grab Vottos shot down the line. "We hadnt come back in a long time, and we hadnt come back for a long time on the road," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. Pittsburgh began the week 74-2 when leading after eight innings, but has now squandered ninth-inning leads twice in three nights. "Who said it was going to be easy?" manager Clint Hurdle said. "Who said it was going to be easy? Weve been very good winning as a team, losing as a team ... weve got to find a way to finish things off." The Pirates appeared firmly in control through eight innings. Francisco Liriano overwhelmed the Reds, allowing two runs on three hits, walking three and striking out seven. The left-hander needed only 94 pitches to record 24 outs, but told Hurdle he was done when he entered the dugout after striking out Brandon Phillips to end the eighth. "He was fantastic," Hurdle said. "He said when he came off he laid it all out there." Ryan Ludwick finished 3 for 5 for the Reds, while Frazier hit his 17th home run. Jose Tabata and Neil Walker hit consecutive homers off Cincinnati starter Mat Latos in the first and Pittsburgh appeared en route to giving itself some breathing room as the franchise pursues its first playoff spot since 1992. PNC Park, typically a ghost town this time of year as the Pirates play out the string, was electric when Pittsburgh took the field. The 21st sellout of the season included Pennsylvania governor Tom Corbett and Pittsburgh Penguins coach Dan Bylsma. NOTES: Hurdle was ejected in the eighth for arguing after star Andrew McCutchen was hit by reliever Sam LeCure, who was given a warning by home plate umpire Mark Carlson ... The series continues on Saturday when Pittsburghs A.J. Burnett (8-11, 3.43 ERA) faces Home Bailey (11-10, 3.40). Bailey tossed his first career no-hitter in his previous start at PNC Park last September. Cheap New Balance Online .J. -- The New Jersey Devils are so bad in shootouts, coach Pete DeBoer doesnt mind seeing his team take chances in the five-minute overtime. New Balance Outlet UK . Ramirez is still hitting behind Puig, only now they are in the third and fourth spots, and the change is starting to generate positive results for manager Don Mattingly. http://www.cheapnewbalanceuk.com/ . As the Winnipeg Blue Bombers opened their main training camp Sunday, Kuale is one of the newcomers brought in to bolster a sagging defence that ranked overall where the Bombers finished 2013, in the CFL cellar with a league high 585 points against. Cheap New Balance Uk . Neither player was available Saturday for the Knicks 107-98 loss in Atlanta. "Were going in a different direction and weve got to figure out another spot or two for our ballclub," coach Mike Woodson said before the game. New Balance Sale Outlet . Canada was placed in one of the easiest groups during Saturdays live televised draw in Montreal.European captain Darren Clarke blooded six Ryder Cup debutants in his 12-man line up - Andy Sullivan, Danny Willett, Chris Wood, Matt Fitzpatrick, Thomas Pieters and Rafa Cabrera Bello. Long-hitting Belgian Pieters proved to be an inspired choice as the 24-year-old claimed a record four points on his debut.He capped a brilliant week by setting a European rookie record with four points after playing in all five sessions, while Cabrera-Bello impressively registered 2.5 points from his three matches while Woods victory over reigning US Open champion Dutin Johnson helped him pick up a point in Sundays singles. In stark contrast, Sullivan, Masters champion Willett, and Fitzpatrick came away with nothing. Ryder Cup: Best singles matches The top five singles matches from Hazeltine National But there are more candidates chomping at the bit to take their place at golfs prestigious biennial event when it heads to the Albatros Course at Le Golf National in Paris.Here, we pick out some of the players who will be favourites to make the line-up.Jacob Olesen The 26-year-old Dane turned pro four years ago and has won three time on the European Tour with his most recent coming at the Alfred Dunhill Links Championship last year. His best finish at a major arrived at The Masters in 2013 where he finished tied sixth.Tommy Fleetwood Southport golfer Fleetwood found his way into the top 50 in the world rankings at the start of last year. The former English amateur champion has won once on Tour - the Johnnie Walker Championship at Gleneagles in 2013.Alexander Levy El Toro is a former French Amateur Championship and claimed his first win on the Tour in 2014 at the Volvo China. He recently won the European Open after a nervy play-off against Ross Fisher. Shane Lowry The 29-year-old Irishman went close to winning the US Open at Oakmont when he finished in a tie for second place behind Dustin Johnson after leading through three rounds. If he can rediscover that form then he will have a great chance of making the team. Top five Ryder Cup shots The five top shots at Hazzeltine National Tyrrell Hatton The Marlow golfer was runner-up at the 2014 Joburg Open but made his mark at The Open when he tied fifth before sealing a 10th-placed finish at the PGA Championship.dddddddddddd VOTE: Ryder Cups best rookie Which rookie was most impressive? Joost Luiten The Dutchman has won five times on the Tour, including wins at the Wales Open and KLM Open. He has also played across the pond, finishing 13th at the WGC-Cadillac Championship and 26th at the Masters and PGA Championship.Andrew Johnston Affectionately known as Beef Johnston is Britains new golfing heavyweight and unashamed about his fast food diet and love for steaks. The colourful 27-year-old almost gave up golf three years ago because he was broke. This year he became star of The Open at Royal Troon where he finished eighth and will be a fans favourite to make the 2018 team. Andrew Beef Johnston says hes relish the Ryder Cup atmosphere if he qualifies to play in 2018 Watch the World Grand Prix Darts, Englands tour of Bangladesh, plus the Japanese Grand Prix and Premier League football on Sky Sports. Upgrade now and enjoy three months at half price! Also See: Ryder Cup: Best singles matches Top five Ryder Cup shots VOTE: Ryder Cups best rookie Golf live on Sky Sports ' ' '