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Phillies edge Pirates on Rollins' hit

Apr 23, 2013 - 4:25 AM Philadelphia, PA (Sports Network) - Jimmy Rollins' go-ahead RBI single in the sixth inning lifted the Philadelphia Phillies to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in the opener of a four-game set.

Rollins finished with two hits and a pair of RBI for the Phillies, who have won three of their last four games on the heels of a four-game skid.

Jonathan Pettibone made his MLB debut for Philadelphia and fanned six while surrendering two runs on six hits over 5 1/3 innings in a no-decision.

"The nerves were definitely flying...but once I settled down I got into a nice little rhythm," Pettibone said

Raul Valdes (1-0) came in to pick up the final two outs of the top of the sixth to get the win.

Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin both had two hits and a solo homer for Pittsburgh, which was coming off a three-game sweep of the Atlanta Braves.

A two-out Phillies rally in the sixth vaulted them into the lead. After Erik Kratz walked and Ezequiel Carrera reached on an infield single against Pirates reliever Jared Hughes (1-2), Rollins deposited a soft liner into right to plate Kratz and make it 3-2.

Antonio Bastardo spun a scoreless seventh, Mike Adams tossed a 1-2-3 eighth and Jonathan Papelbon worked around a one-out double in the ninth to notch his fourth save of the year.

Earlier, Pittsburgh's Starling Marte ripped the second pitch of the game into the gap in left-center and moved to third on Travis Snider's fly out to center. Garrett Jones came up two batters later and lined a screamer to right, but John Mayberry made a diving grab to keep the Buccos off the board.

Alvarez scalded a liner into the front row of seats down the right-field line to put Pittsburgh on top in the second, but the Phillies took the lead after plating a run in the third and another in the fourth.

Pirates starter A.J. Burnett struck out Kratz and Pettibone with the bases loaded in the fourth, but was unable to escape the frame unscathed after his 2-2 fastball hit Rollins on the shin to force in a run.

"At times I had it, and at times I didn't. ... You have to be more effective than that," Burnett said.

Martin tied the contest in the fifth when he led off the frame by golfing Pettibone's 2-2 fastball over the wall in left.

Game Notes

Pettibone's six strikeouts are the most by a Phillies pitcher making his MLB debut since Cole Hamels fanned seven in his first start in 2006 ... The Phillies were 2-for-12 with runners in scoring position ... Burnett struck out seven, but allowed two runs on five hits and three walks over five frames.