MLB Scores: NL-best Pittsburgh Pirates win 7th straight for best start in 31 years

Vince Velasquez struck out 10 in seven innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates blanked the Cincinnati Reds 2-0 on Sunday for their seventh consecutive victory.

The surprising Pirates moved into first place in the NL Central and improved to 16-7 — the top record in the National League — for the franchise’s best start since its last division title in 1992.

It was the most strikeouts for Velasquez (3-2) since May 10, 2018, when he had 12 for the Phillies against the Giants. He allowed two hits and walked two.

David Bednar struck out two in the ninth for his eighth save, finishing a four-hitter.

Hunter Greene (0-1) pitched six innings of one-run ball for the Reds, who have dropped six in a row.