Pirates 9 - 4 Diamondbacks
Final
  for this game

Pirates rally past D-backs

Aug 2, 2014 - 6:00 AM Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Jordy Mercer's RBI double sparked a five-run ninth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates took a 9-4 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second contest of a four-game set on Friday.

Josh Harrison doubled, tripled and scored twice, while Pedro Alvarez and Travis Snider each drove in two runs for the Pirates, who snapped a two-game skid.

Tony Watson (8-1) tossed a scoreless eighth to earn the win. Starter Edison Volquez gave up four runs -- three earned -- on seven hits and two walks with five strikeouts over 5 2/3 innings.

Ender Inciarte hit a three-run home and David Peralta and Mark Trumbo each had two hits for Arizona, which entered the game with wins in three of its last four.

Bo Schultz (0-1) was tagged with the loss after allowing five runs on six hits in the ninth. Vidal Nuno surrendered just one run and three hits with five strikeouts in six frames.

Arizona's bullpen, which entered the game limiting opponents to just five runs in 24 2/3 innings, gave up eight runs on 10 hits and three walks in the loss.

"We were in a bad spot with the bullpen," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "I made the decision to try to get through it with the guys I pitched with and they were unable to do so."

Schultz entered the game with one out in the ninth. Harrison hit a double down the left-field line and Mercer followed with an RBI double to left to give Pittsburgh the lead.

After Andrew McCutchen was intentionally walked, Michael Martinez and Russell Martin hit RBI singles. Gregory Polanco singled to reload the bases. Snider's grounder squirted into right field for a two-run base hit and a 9-4 game.

"It's baseball. We know it's not over until it's over," said Harrison. "Regardless of how those first couple of innings went, we knew we had a chance as long as we still had outs."

Pirates reliever Ernesto Frieri hit Paul Goldschmidt on the hand with a fastball with one out in the bottom of the ninth, provoking a meeting between the two teams once play concluded.

The game was scoreless until the fifth when Arizona went ahead 4-0. Didi Gregorius singled and Volquez plunked Nuno before Inciarte crushed a three- run blast to right. Peralta walked, stole second, moved to third on catcher Martin's throwing error and raced home on Volquez's wild pitch.

Mercer doubled to left with one out in the sixth and came home two batters later on Gabby Sanchez's base hit to left.

Pittsburgh tied the game in the eighth. After Ike Davis struck out, Harrison ripped a triple off the right-field wall and Mercer walked to place runners on the corners. McCutchen plated Harrison with a double to deep center and pinch- hitter Alvarez greeted Eury De La Rosa with a two-run double to center, making it a 4-4 game.

Game Notes

The Pirates lead the season series, 3-2 ... Watson has given up just one run in 11 career appearances against Arizona ... Watson's eight wins are tied for the team lead and tied for the most by a Pirates reliever since the start of the 2007 season ... Pittsburgh went 9-for-16 in running position, while Arizona went 1-for-6.






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