PITTSBURGH —
Melky Cabrera hit his eighth homer of the season, Ryan Theriot drove in two runs and the San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 6-5 on Friday night.
Barry Zito (7-6) survived five eventful innings to win for the second time in his last six starts as the Giants snapped a three-game losing streak. Sergio Romo worked the ninth for his fifth save while subbing for regular closer Santiago Casilla.
Andrew McCutchen had three hits to raise his batting average to a National League-leading .360. Pedro Alvarez and Casey McGehee added solo homers, but couldn’t stop Pittsburgh from having its four-game winning streak snapped.
Erik Bedard (4-10) endured another short outing, failing to get through the fourth inning as the Giants turned a three-run deficit into a 5-3 lead behind Cabrera’s two-run homer.
The Giants have slumped since surging to the top of the National League West last week, losing five of six. The offense has sputtered while the pitching hasn’t been much help. San Francisco surrendered 24 runs while getting swept in Washington earlier in the week, including a 6-5 victory Thursday in which the Giants squandered a four-run lead.
There would be no collapse Friday after San Francisco jumped on the slumping Bedard.
The veteran left-hander has been shaky over the last six weeks, battling control issues and a breaking ball that has sometimes betrayed him. He’s been steady at home – coming in with a 2-2 record and a 2.31 ERA – and looked to be ready for a bounce-back performance while cruising through the first three innings.
Things unraveled quickly in the fourth.
Justin Christian led off with a walk, came home on a double by Theriot and Cabrera followed with a two-run shot to left. Buster Posey walked on four pitches and Pablo Sandoval scratched out an infield hit before Bedard could record a single out.
The Giants pushed two more runs across the plate on an RBI single by Sanchez and an error by Pittsburgh shortstop Josh Harrison that brought home Sandoval as San Francisco jumped ahead 5-3.
Zito held on to grind through five innings. He gave up four runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out three while needing 91 pitches to get 15 outs.
Unlike Thursday’s meltdown against the Nationals in which San Francisco’s bullpen wobbled, this time the Giants closed it out to blunt some of Pittsburgh’s momentum. Romo, filling in while Casilla got the night off to let a blister on his right (pitching) hand heel, retired the side in order, getting McCutchen to ground out to third to end it and stifle the “MVP!” chants the All-Star center fielder gets every time he steps to the plate.
The Pirates have been one of baseball’s biggest surprises and appeared ready to post their first five-game winning streak since September 2010 after getting to Zito early. McCutchen – who leads baseball with a whopping .456 average against lefties – knocked in Harrison with a single in the first and brought him home again in the third with a triple to left-center field.
The series continues today as Pittsburgh’s James McDonald (8-3, 2.45 ERA) faces San Francisco’s Ryan Vogelsong (7-3, 2.26).
Sports
Giants cool off Pirates
- Sports
-
-
Penguins look to close out Senators
Ottawa Senators captain Daniel Alfredsson isn’t quite ready for the traditional season-ending handshake.
-
Bell wants to answer call in Steelers backfield
Le’Veon Bell wants the ball in his hands. Always.
-
Pirates complete three-game sweep of Cubs
It was hard to tell whether the Pittsburgh Pirates were heading on a road trip or getting ready for a Stanley Cup playoff game after beating the Chicago Cubs 4-2 on Thursday for their fourth straight win.
-
Pens seize 3-1 series lead over Senators
Sidney Crosby was careful not to get too far ahead of himself after helping the Pittsburgh Penguins rout the Ottawa Senators for a 3-1 lead in the Eastern Conference semifinal series.
-
Liriano dominant in third start with Bucs
Francisco Liriano’s fastball is going where he wants it to. The Pittsburgh Pirates are following suit.
-
Miller improving, but cautious about return
Heath Miller knows his football career isn’t over, just paused. When the injured Pittsburgh Steelers Pro Bowl tight end will be able to hit the “play” button again is anybody’s guess.
-
Senators relish chance to even series with Penguins
After a win in Game 3, the Ottawa Senators are confident they can tie their series against the Pittsburgh Penguins.
-
Snider’s grand slam lifts Bucs over Cubs
Travis Snider took a pregame pep talk from his manager to heart. Relaxed and with a clear head, he delivered a crucial sixth-inning home run for the second time in five games.
-
Humbled Steelers ready to forget offseason
Troy Polamalu walked off the Pittsburgh Steelers’ practice field on Tuesday with rookie safety Shamarko Thomas hanging on the veteran safety’s every word.
-
Palmer to leave UPJ women’s position
Sasha Palmer will embark on a new chapter as a women’s basketball coach next month.
- More Sports Headlines
-
George: I slipped up
LeBron, Wade on OT win
Hill responds after Game 1 loss to Heat
Vogel: We've got to play better
Spoelstra: Welcome to the Eastern Conference Finals
Raw: Kevin Durant Tours Moore After $1M Pledge
Trout's cycle a boost for Angels
NBA star pledges $1M to help tornado recovery
Coach's quick call saves Moore football team
Sergio Garcia issues an apology to Tiger Woods
Sergio Garcia makes insensitive remark about Tiger Woods
Athletes come to aid of Oklahoma tornado victims
Tiger Woods on his relationship with Sergio Garcia
NBA Draft: Top 5 Prospects
VIRAL: Baby makes epic soccer goal
Race Preview: Charlotte Motor Speedway
Behind the Seams: Big Spenders are Busts
Red Wings take 2-1 series lead
McReynolds: Johnson Coca-Cola 600 favorite?
McReynolds: 48 Team primed for Chase
