PITTSBURGH -- It looked like Alfredo Simons bubble was about to burst. After being one of the biggest surprises of the young season for the Cincinnati Reds by ably filling in for injured starting pitcher Mat Latos, Simon hit a rough patch in the first inning Wednesday night. He walked three batters in a row to force in a run. Then, just like that, the right-hander went back to being dominant, pitching into the seventh inning despite the erratic early control, and Jay Bruce drove in a run for a fifth consecutive game as the Reds beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-2. "It was cold and I was having a hard time feeling the ball," said Simon, pitching on a blustery night when the game-time temperature was 50 degrees. "After that first inning, I felt a lot better and pitched like Ive been pitching. Simon (3-1) worked 6 2-3 innings and allowed two runs on four hits and five walks while striking out four. Simon has pitched at least six innings in each of his four starts this season as a replacement for the injured Mat Latos and has a 1.30 ERA. Simon pitched exclusively in relief the previous two years. "Hes been terrific," Reds manager Bryan Price said. "Hes been an extremely versatile pitcher for us the last two-plus seasons. Hes always been a talented guy, but hes really found himself and made himself into a very good-looking starting pitcher." Bruce had two hits and knocked in the final run of the decisive three-run fifth inning against Charlie Morton (0-3) that gave the Reds a 4-2 lead. Billy Hamilton also had two hits for Cincinnati, which stole four bases while winning seven of 10 games since a 3-7 start. "We took advantage of what we could because this is team that might not give you a lot most nights," Bruce said. "We tried to put some pressure on the defence." Jonathan Broxton pitched a scoreless ninth inning, despite allowing two hits, for his third save. Andrew McCutchen had two hits and homered for the third consecutive night for the Pirates, who lost for the 10th time in 13 games. Morton also had control issues, walking five in six innings while giving up four runs -- three earned -- and four hits with four strikeouts. "I was yanking my fastball all night," he said. "There were times were I was trying to go inside on left-handed hitters and missing in the right-handed batters box. I was literally missing by 3 feet." The Reds used their speed to go ahead in a fifth inning that included two stolen bases and the second throwing error of the game by catcher Chris Stewart. NOTES: Pittsburgh C Russell Martin was a late scratch because of a miscommunication. Martin, who is 0-for-7 against Simon, thought he was getting Wednesday off while manager Clint Hurdle thought he and Martin had decided Thursday would be an off day. ... Reds LHP Aroldis Chapman threw early batting practice, the first time he had faced hitters since suffering fractures of his eye and nose along with a mild concussion March 19 when he was hit by a line drive off the bat of Kansas Citys Salvador Perez. Chapman pitched from behind a protective screen and the next step is for him to throw batting practice without the screen sometime this weekend when the Reds visit Atlanta. ... Cincinnati INF/OF Skip Schumaker will report to the Reds extended spring training camp on Friday at Goodyear, Ariz., as he continues to rehab the left shoulder he dislocated while diving for a ball in the outfield during a spring training game March 21. ... Pittsburgh 1B Travis Ishikawa cleared waivers and elected free agency after declining an outright assignment to Triple-A Indianapolis. He was designated for assignment last Friday. ... The Pirates will recall RHP Brandon Cumpton from Indianapolis to start Thursday against LHP Tony Cingrani (1-2, 3.22) in the finale of the four-game series. Cheap Basketball Shoes Online . As each game passes (each has played close with the exception of last night) it becomes clearer just how evenly matched these two teams are and how one mistake, or one bad inning, is likely to sway the result. Discount Basketball Shoes . FIFA said the suspension was requested by ethics prosecutor Michael Garcia, making Beckenbauer the first person to be punished as a result of the case. Beckenbauer refused "repeated requests for his assistance, including requests that he provide information during an in-person interview or in response to written questions provided in both English and German," FIFA said in a statement. http://www.wholesalebasketballshoes.us/ . Not because it was right, but because referees werent allowed to determine it was wrong. Cheap Basketball Shoes Wholesale . Joining him in this years class were Switzerlands Patrick Huerlimann and Norways Eigil Ramsfjell. The announcement was made at the world mens curling championship at Capital Indoor Stadium in China. Cheap Basketball Shoes China .Shipulin pulled away from Martin Fourcade of France, Simon Eder of Austria and Fredrik Lindstrom of Sweden to finish in 35 minutes 16.8 seconds. Fourcade was 1.2 seconds back in second place to reclaim the overall World Cup lead, with Eder another 0.LAKE FOREST, Ill. - Bears offensive co-ordinator Aaron Kromer called it a case of speaking out of turn and his reeling team is making every attempt to push his public criticism of quarterback Jay Cutler into the past.Kromer admitted Friday that he asked for the forgiveness of players and other coaches Monday while apologizing to them for remarks he made to an NFL Network reporter that were critical of Cutler and the offence. In the report, Kromer complained that Cutler was unable to get out of running plays with audible play calls. The story suggested the Bears have buyers remorse after signing Cutler to a contract extension before the season, but Kromer said in his apology to the team that he never mentioned any buyers remorse.I just want to say I made a very poor decision talking about things outside the building and I admit that and cant take that back, Kromer said. But I recognize that I made a mistake. When I did, instantly (I) went right to the offensive unit, our unit, our group, and apologized to the offence as well as apologized to Jay in front of the offence that he was singled out in the situation.I wish I wouldnt have made that mistake. Its happened, and were a group and a unit. We worked it out together.Cutler called it a dead issue after the apology, and doubted it would affect the way the team prepares for Mondays game with the New Orleans Saints or the two other remaining games.I wasnt angry at him, Cutler said. The way that he talked to us and approached the issue, I think it kind of cleared the air a little bit with everybody. I want to play better, the offensive line wants to play better, the receivers want to play better. We all want to play better on offence and thats the main issue.The apology did surprise Cutler, though.I think not so much that it happened, but that he stepped in front of us and apologized; he was owning up to it, he said. Because like I said, everyone has made mistakes and said things in the media and said things to otther players in passing that we regret, but not many of us step up in front of everybody and apologize and own it the way he did.dddddddddddd I think we left that meeting in a better place than we started.Kromer never considered resigning over his comments, and Bears coach Marc Trestman said he never considered firing Kromer. He wouldnt say whether he fined Kromer over the incident.We dont like what happened, Trestman said. Were disappointed in what happened. Im disappointed in what happened. But this is an opportunity for you to work through something like this. And were doing that internally.The Bears are 5-8 and at the bottom of the NFC North. They will miss the playoffs for the seventh time in the past eight seasons.The seven-year deal for Cutler is reportedly worth nearly $18 million per year over the first three years and included at least $50 million guaranteed. The idea of the Bears having buyers remorse came up when wide receiver Brandon Marshall said he could understand if the team had some after the failure of the offence to play consistently well.The discussion doesnt bother Cutler, who has a league-high 21 turnovers.Stuff like that, when youre 5-8, thats going to happen, he said. When you just got paid a big contract and youre a quarterback, thats part of the deal, part of the job. To say it doesnt affect me, I dont know if thats true or not. Im human just like everybody else. I hear about it, but at the end of the day, Ive got to worry about the Saints, just keep trying to improve this team. If I play better, that will just give us a better chance to win.Marshall is done for the season with a rib injury and lung injury suffered against Dallas last week. Cutler said he could understand Marshalls comments to some extent.I know Brandon is frustrated with his production, where the team is, and rightfully so, Cutler said. Were all frustrated right now. Whenever he does get back, I hope that he will help the offence get back on track. Wholesale Hoodies NFL Shirts Outlet Jerseys NFL Wholesale Cheap NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Wholesale Jerseys Cheap Cheap NFL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys Wholesale NFL Jerseys Cheap NFL Jerseys China Cheap NFL Jerseys ' ' '