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McGehee lifts Pirates over Rockies

Apr 25, 2012 - 4:17 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Casey McGehee singled home the go-ahead run in the bottom of the eighth inning, as the Pittsburgh Pirates edged the Colorado Rockies, 5-4, in the opener of a delayed three-game set at PNC Park.

The Pirates rallied twice late in the game. They erased a 2-1 deficit in the seventh on Andrew McCutchen's two-run double off the center field wall, but Colorado moved back in front in the eighth on a two-out, two-run homer by Carlos Gonzalez, his second of the night, off Tony Watson (1-0).

Clint Barmes belted a game-tying home run off Matt Belisle (1-1) to lead off the bottom of the inning. Pinch-hitter Garrett Jones then walked and Alex Presley reached when Belisle mishandled his sacrifice bunt.

After Jose Tabata popped out to the catcher on a failed bunt attempt and McCutchen grounded into a 1-6 fielder's choice, McGehee stroked a single to right-center to put the Pirates on top.

Joel Hanrahan tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his third save of the season.

Barmes and Presley both doubled twice for the Pirates, who have won four of their last six games.

"It was a good night for our offense. We had some good at-bats," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle.

Gonzalez accounted for half of the Rockies' six hits. Colorado has split its last eight games.

Both starters pitched six strong innings for their respective teams.

The lone blemish for the Pirates' Kevin Correia was Gonzalez's blast in the first. The right-hander struck out four and did not issue a walk.

Jamie Moyer, who in his last outing became the oldest pitcher in major league history to win a game, gave up an RBI groundout to McCutchen in the bottom of the first and escaped a bases-loaded jam in the sixth.

"You got to give them some credit, they battled back. Our starting pitcher did a tremendous job," said Colorado manager Jim Tracy.

This series was initially scheduled to start Monday, but inclement weather forced a postponement. To make up for the rainout, the two clubs will play a doubleheader on Wednesday.

Game Notes

Pittsburgh is the first team since the 1965 Pirates to go the first 16 games without scoring or giving up more than five runs...Gonzalez recorded the fifth multi-home run game of his career...Correia made his first start at home this season. He went 2-8 with a 7.71 ERA in 13 games (12 starts) at PNC Park in 2011...Presley extended his hitting streak to a career-best eight games...McGehee walked three times...Moyer allowed six hits and fanned three...The Pirates were 4-for-16 with runners in scoring position.