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Correia strong as Pirates top Giants

Apr 16, 2012 - 3:55 AM San Francisco, CA (Sports Network) - Kevin Correia tossed six strong innings as the Pittsburgh Pirates avoided a sweep with a 4-1 victory over the San Francisco Giants in the finale of a three-game set at AT&T Park.

Correia (1-0) gave up just one run on three hits and one walk while striking out two. Joel Hanrahan struggled with his control in the ninth, but managed to turn away the Giants and record his first save of the season.

Alex Presley finished 2-for-4 with an RBI and Garrett Jones crushed a solo home run, while Neil Walker had two hits and Josh Harrison added an RBI for the Bucs, who snapped a five-game skid.

"We had lost five in a row and we had to turn it around," said Correia. "I think we've been throwing the ball pretty well. We haven't quite gotten on the board enough and today we came through with some runs."

Ryan Vogelsong (0-1) took the loss in his first start of the season after recovering from back pain that caused him to miss time during spring training. Vogelsong gave up just two runs on four hits and three walks while fanning seven in 6 1/3 innings.

"He threw great. He did a great job in his first time out," Giants manager Bruce Bochy said about Vogelsong.

Emmanuel Burriss knocked in the only run of the game for the Giants, who had a three-game winning streak halted.

To make matters worse for San Francisco, the team placed star closer Brian Wilson on the 15-day DL with a right elbow sprain.

Giants manager Bruce Bochy announced on Saturday that the hard-throwing righty likely has structural damage in the elbow and would consult orthopedist Dr. James Andrews, but he will likely require season-ending Tommy John surgery.

The Pirates opened the scoring with a pair of runs in the second inning. Jones led off the frame by blasting a fastball from Vogelsong over the wall in right-center field. Walker followed with a single into left, moved to second on a single by Clint Barmes and Michael McKenry drew a free pass to load the bases. After Correia popped out, Presley beat out an infield single, allowing Walker to score.

San Francisco finally cracked the scoreboard in the fifth when Brandon Belt ripped a double to right to begin the inning, moved to third on a groundout by Brandon Crawford, then came home on a groundout by Burriss to cut the Pirates' lead in half.

Pittsburgh extended its lead to 4-1 in the eighth. Andrew McCutchen ripped a single to left to start things and McGehee followed with a single to put the first two men on base. Jeremy Affeldt was then summoned from the bullpen and the first batter he faced -- Walker -- laid down a sacrifice bunt, but Pablo Sandoval threw the ball away, allowing McCutchen to score. Harrison, as a pinch-hitter, then put down a bunt which allowed McGehee to score.

San Francisco stranded two runners in the eighth and the ninth.

Game Notes

Including his two appearances this season, Wilson has recorded 171 saves and a 3.21 earned run average in 315 appearances over his seven professional seasons...Pittsburgh went 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and stranded nine, while San Francisco was 0-for-11 with RISP and left nine on base...The Giants will host Philadelphia for three games starting on Monday, while Pittsburgh will open a three-game set against the Diamondbacks also on Monday.