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CINCINNATI, Ohio -- Ryan Ludwicks simple grounder ended the Reds longest game of the season. No such reprieve for the Pittsburgh Pirates, whose misery goes on. Ludwick drove in the winning run with a two-out infield single in the 14th inning, lifting the Cincinnati Reds to a marathon 4-3 victory Monday night that handed the fading Pirates their fourth straight loss. Rick VandenHurk (0-1), called up before the game, started the 14th and gave up a single by Devin Mesoraco. Brandon Phillips reached when the Pirates failed to get a forceout on his grounder, and the runners advanced on a wild pitch. Pirates shortstop Chase dArnaud couldnt come up with Ludwicks grounder in the hole, finally ending it. "I stunk the entire game," said Ludwick, who was 0 for 5 before the final at-bat. "I mustve had a thousand chances to win the game, and I finally did it on the thousandth chance. Every time I came up, it seemed like there were guys on base. Im glad I finally got it done in ... what inning was it? The 14th?" Yes, the 14th. And there was plenty of drama in both halves of it. The Pirates loaded the bases with none out in the top of the 14th against Alfredo Simon (2-2) and failed to score -- Jose Tabata grounded out to end the threat. The organist played "Take Me Out To The Ball Game" again between innings. It was the Reds longest game of the season in innings and time -- 5 hours, 22 minutes. The Pirates played a 19-inning, 6-hour game against St. Louis last month. "That was a game we needed big-time," Cincinnati manager Dusty Baker said. "We were spent, emotionally and physically." Imagine what the Pirates felt! Their slump -- four straight losses and 21 in the last 30 games -- has dropped them a season-high 12 games behind the first-place Reds in the NL Central. "Well, you know, Ive heard that whatever doesnt kill you makes you stronger," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Were fighting through this thing. This has been a big push for us. Its been a hard time for a while." Sam LeCure bailed out Reds closer Aroldis Chapman to keep it tied in the 10th, retiring Michael McKenry on a grounder with the bases loaded. LeCure struck out the side in the 11th. Chapman had trouble getting his fastball up to speed in his first appearance since Friday, when he had his club-record streak of 27 straight saves snapped. Chapman walked the bases loaded around a pair of outs, his fastball topping out at 96 mph. Baker said after the game that Chapman will get some rest. "His velocitys down," Baker said. "Theres no pain, but he might be a little tired. We might have to rest him for a few days. He was analyzed by the doctor and his shoulder might be a little fatigued." The Reds wasted a chance in the bottom of the 10th, leaving the bases loaded when Jay Bruce struck out. Bruce went 0 for 5, ending his nine-game hitting streak. Plate umpire Phil Cuzzi warned both benches after Jared Hughes hit Brandon Phillips in the leg with a one-out pitch in the eighth. Phillips paused a moment, picked up the ball and tossed it back toward the mound before heading to first base. The Pirates were upset earlier in the season when a couple of their players got plunked in games. The game drew 16,577 fans, the smallest crowd at Great American Ball Park this season. The second-smallest crowd of the season also was for a Pirates game -- 16,859 for a 5-4 Reds win on June 6. Pittsburgh left-hander Wandy Rodriguez allowed only one hit through the first six innings -- Chris Heiseys solo homer. Hughes relieved in the seventh and gave up a two-run double by Dioner Navarro that tied it at 3. Andrew McCutchen homered off Mat Latos, who got a no-decision and remained unbeaten against the Pirates in his career. The right-hander gave up three runs and remained 4-0 in six career starts against Pittsburgh, allowing a total of nine runs. NOTES: There were more than 500 dogs in the stands as part of a promotion that allowed fans to bring their pets. ... VandenHurk and dArnaud were called up before the game, along with RHP Bryan Morris. ... The Reds went 32-16 without 1B Joey Votto and are 2-3 since his return. Votto celebrated his 29th birthday. ... Reds SS Zack Cozart missed his sixth straight game with a strained oblique muscle. ... Reds 3B Scott Rolen took grounders at third base before the game to test his back, which sidelined him for four games, and pinch-hit in the 13th. He grounded out. Cheap NFL Jerseys China . -- The London Knights and the Shawinigan Cataractes will be coming from opposite directions when they collide in the final of the Mastercard Memorial Cup. Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys . Diving Canadas chief technical officer says the team would be content with two medals but would love to leave London with three. http://jasonhavens.org/cheap.html . The current three-year agreement expires after this season and over the next three-year period, the four Atlantic University Sport football teams will once again play one interlock game each season, home or away, while each RSEQ school will play two games over the three-year agreement, one home and one away.NEW ORLEANS -- Chris Paul wanted out of New Orleans for a better chance to win. In his first trip back, he received a mix of a cheers and boos, and left with a loss. Chris Kaman scored 20 points and the Hornets rallied for a 97-90 victory over the Los Angeles Clippers on Thursday night, spoiling Pauls return. Jarrett Jack and Jason Smith each scored 17 as New Orleans snapped a five-game home losing streak. "There was a lot of emotions going through my head," Paul said. "But as soon as they threw the ball up, all of that was out the window." The Clippers were held to 11 points in the fourth quarter as they shot 4 for 23 from the field. Los Angeles also missed its last 19 3-point attempts. After trailing throughout the first three quarters, the Hornets went ahead with an 11-2 run at the start of the fourth and led the rest of the way. "We just wanted to come out there and play aggressive, no matter if they got a dunk," Smith said. "Theyre going to get highlight dunks and highlight this and highlight that." Blake Griffin had 21 points for Los Angeles, which has lost three in a row for the first time this season. Paul, who forced a trade from New Orleans before the season, added 16 points on 5-for-14 shooting. "Theres frustration, theres no question," Clippers coach Vinny Del Negro said. "But, hey, youve got come ready to play every night and you cant take plays off." Jack, Pauls replacement as the starting point guard in New Orleans, put the Hornets ahead for the first time, 80-79, with a jumper in the lane. After the Clippers tied the score at 81, Xavier Henry hit a fall-away buzzer-beater to put New Orleans ahead for good, Smith dunked off a beautiful bounce pass from Greivis Vazquez and Smith sank an outside shot to give the Hornets a six-point lead. The game took an ugly turn with 4:06 left when Smith body-slammed Griffin to the floor on a fast break. Paul followed Smith into the concourse behind the basket and had words with him as several players jawed at each other. "It was a terrible foul," Paul said. "I dont know what Jason was thinking. He probably better be ready to sit out a game or two for that one. Im just glad Blake controlled it." Smith was assessed a flagrant 2 foul, which carries an automatic ejection, but left the court to a loud ovation. "I think it looked a lot worse than what it was, but thats still not a play that you ever want to do to another player like that," Smith said. "I apologize to Blake Griffin. I didnt want to hurt him at all. I just wanted to try aand cut off his lane to the basket.dddddddddddd." Griffin hit both free throws, but the Clippers failed to score on the ensuing possession and never caught up. Typical of their frustration, DeAndre Jordan shot an air ball from three feet that turned into a shot clock violation with the Hornets leading 93-89. Griffin cut the gap to 93-90 on a free throw with 54.2 seconds left, but Randy Foye missed a 3 that would have tied it on Los Angeles next possession. Marco Belinellis two free throws with 14.9 seconds left sealed if for New Orleans. Paul, a four-time All-Star with the Hornets, drew a mixed reaction. He was greeted with cheers and boos in the introductions. A tribute that ran on the video screens above the court at the end of the first quarter -- focusing on his off-court projects with kids in New Orleans -- drew a loud ovation, and he waved his acknowledgement while standing in front of the Clippers bench. But fans cheered again when he picked up his third foul late in the second quarter and even started screaming "Beat L.A.," a chant normally reserved for the Lakers. Paul needed only 16 seconds for his first assist, a pass to Randy Foye for a 3-pointer. He had three assists on the Clippers first four baskets and also scored on a driving layup and a wide open 3-pointer from the top of the key in the first 8 minutes. That was part of the Clippers 35-point outburst -- the most points the Hornets have allowed in the first quarter all season -- and Los Angeles led by six. They had three dunks, including one by Young over Smith immediately after Smith blocked a dunk attempt by Jordan. But the Clippers slowed down dramatically from there, failing to score 100 points for the ninth consecutive game. Paul had five assists in the open quarter and only four more the rest of the way. He also did not have a rebound. "We came out with a lot of energy, but playing hard is not going to win it in this league," Paul said. "You have to play effective, youve got to play smart, weve got to play better." Jack outscored him by 1 and matched his nine assists. NOTES: This was the only game the teams will play in New Orleans this season. They meet two more times, both in Los Angeles. ... The Hornets shot 71 per cent in the first quarter. ... Clippers guard Mo Williams was carried off the court with a left big toe injury in the second half. Hornets starting forward Trevor Ariza left in the third quarter with a sore right ankle and did not return. ... Actor Samuel L. Jackson, in town for the filming of a Quentin Tarantino movie, announced the starting lineups. ' ' '