Cincinnati, OH (SportsNetwork.com) - Kristopher Negron's two-run homer capped a three-run eighth inning, lifting the Cincinnati Reds over the Pittsburgh Pirates, 4-1, on Sunday.

The Pirates entered the final day of the regular season a game behind St. Louis in the NL Central. Pittsburgh needed to win and have the Cardinals lose against Arizona to force a one-game tiebreaker at Busch Stadium to determine the division champion. But the Cardinals won the division title with the Pirates' loss.

Pittsburgh (88-74) will host the Giants in the NL wild card game on Wednesday. The Pirates also hosted the wild card game last year and beat the Reds before losing to the Cardinals.

Johnny Cueto (20-9) was sharp en route to his 20th victory of the season, giving up one run on six hits over eight innings. He struck out seven and became the first Reds pitcher to win 20 games since Danny Jackson in 1988. He's the first Reds right-hander to win 20 since 1965, when Sammy Ellis and Jim Maloney did it.

The Reds (76-86) finished the season fourth in the NL Central.

Pittsburgh starter Gerrit Cole allowed one run on four hits while striking out 12 over seven innings.

It was a 1-1 game in the bottom of the eighth when Jason Bourgeois led off with a triple to left-center field against reliever Tony Watson (10-2). Cueto helped his own cause with an RBI single to center. Justin Wilson came in from the bullpen and gave up a two-run homer to Negron.

Aroldis Chapman tossed a scoreless ninth to record his 36th save of the season.

Earlier, the Reds jumped out to a 1-0 lead in the first. Negron singled, moved to third on Brandon Phillips' single and raced home on Todd Frazier's groundout.

Neil Walker homered in the fourth to make it 1-1.