Complete stats, page 7

PITTSBURGH (AP) - Freddie Sanchez couldn't do what he was supposed to do, so he improvised.

Sanchez tripled off the glove of left fielder Ryan Freel to tie the game and scored the go-ahead run on Jack Wilson's single as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for three runs in the eighth inning to beat the Cincinnati Reds 9-7 Sunday.

''It felt good leaving the bat, but I was just glad I made something happen after I couldn't get down a sacrifice bunt and then couldn't execute the hit-and-run,'' said Sanchez, who had three hits. ''I'm just glad he didn't rob me. He's a good outfielder, and he's capable of making those kinds of plays.''

Ty Wigginton walked on four pitches to open the eighth off Matt Belisle (4-8) and scored when Sanchez sent Freel crashing into the wall. Wilson came around on Brad Eldred's single. Mike Gonzalez (1-3) pitched the final two innings for the Pirates, who have won four of five.

''We scored seven runs and we still had a lot of chances,'' Reds interim manager Jerry Narron said.