PITTSBURGH -- The Reds’ offense had a much-needed series of big numbers, sparked by a group of recently returned players.

Cincinnati took a series at PNC Park with a 9-5 win over the Pirates on Sunday. It was the first time this season that the Reds’ offense produced nine or more runs in back-to-back games. The last time came in 2021, on Sept. 26 (nine) and Sept. 27 (13) against the Nationals and Pirates, respectively.

The most consistent contributor was once again Jake Fraley, who had the day off from fielding duties but got plenty of work on the basepaths. He launched his first career leadoff homer on the fourth pitch of the game, an 0-2 curveball from Zach Thompson.

Fraley now has homers in four of his past six games, all of which have come from a leadoff spot he’s secured through his consistent hitting since returning from the 60-day IL on July 3.

As the Reds’ leadoff hitter, the 27-year-old outfielder -- who also lined a two-run single that would have been a homer in 28 ballparks -- has gone 11-for-36 with two doubles, four homers and eight RBIs in 11 games. He’s walked seven times, including three on Sunday when he reached base a career-best five times.

“Every time he’s at the plate, we’re expecting something big, and he’s delivering,” said Mike Minor, who allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings as part of his first win since June 10. “I don’t think he felt great today. I think he was a little stiff, but he was on base [five times].”

A hitter who more recently returned from the injured list also provided a clutch hit for the Reds. Mike Moustakas, who was reinstated on Friday, torched a two-run homer that nearly cleared the seats in right field to erase Cincinnati’s lone deficit in the series finale.

He also singled in the fifth, bringing his total hits up to five in the series in Pittsburgh. It’s the most hits he’s recorded in a three-game span since he had five across a series in Milwaukee from May 3-5.

And it’s in line with a trend of Moustakas’ over his 12-year Major League career. He entered the game with a .943 OPS all time at PNC Park, the highest mark at any park in which he’s played at least 10 games.

“I like the way I see the ball here,” Moustakas said. “Right field feels like it's right there. It's a beautiful ballpark. I like the skyline in the background. It's awesome. But otherwise, it's just one of those things that happens in baseball.”

Four Reds had multiple hits in the game, including three by Donovan Solano, who returned from the restricted list on Saturday after the birth of his third child.

“He has such a simple approach at the plate, no matter who he’s facing,” Reds manager David Bell said. “He knows exactly what he wants to do. He doesn’t try to do too much. It’s fun to watch him hit.”

Unfortunately, Cincinnati’s lineup won’t return to full strength this season, with the face of the franchise, Joey Votto, out for the season after having shoulder and biceps surgeries performed on Friday. But the team knows that despite its spot in the standings, it can produce runs on the regular when it can get near full strength.

“Joey's such a big part of what we do here, though, offensively, defensively, in the clubhouse. Just him being around is huge,” Moustakas said. “So we're going to miss him a lot, but we've got to keep going out there and playing ball, and ... we can throw some numbers up pretty good. As long as we keep going out there and playing hard and doing that, we're going to have a chance.