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Pirates edge White Sox, run win streak to seven

Jun 18, 2015 - 4:48 AM Chicago, IL (SportsNetwork.com) - The Pittsburgh Pirates finally gave up a run but nevertheless ran their winning streak to a season high-tying seven games with a 3-2 victory over the struggling Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

The Pirates posted shutouts in five of their previous six games, including two of the White Sox at PNC Park, and saw Jeff Locke run the team's scoreless streak to 35 innings before Chicago pushed two across in the sixth.

"It's fortunate to be part of this," Locke said. "I just wanted to pick up where (my teammates) left off."

Locke (4-3) limited the damage to those two runs while striking out eight and scattering three hits and two walks. Arquimedes Caminero, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon each pitched a scoreless inning of relief behind Locke.

Jung-Ho Kang's two-run homer in the first inning spoiled an otherwise solid start from John Danks (3-7), who lasted seven innings and allowed three runs on five hits.

"We're not playing consistent baseball," Danks said. "It's frustrating."

The White Sox, losers in six straight, came in getting outscored an MLB-worst 53-19 in the opening frame and went down 3-0 just four batters into the game.

Josh Harrison led off with a double and scored on Andrew McCutchen's one-out base hit, and Kang went the other way for his fourth home run of the season.

Locke set down the first nine Chicago hitters and allowed just one hit through five innings. The left-hander nearly retired the side in order in the sixth, but Adam Eaton took a payoff pitch off the plate to earn a two-out walk.

Melky Cabrera smacked a double down the third-base line, and Eaton scored easily from first to end Pittsburgh's lengthy scoreless streak.

The run was also the White Sox's first in 31 innings, and after Jose Abreu walked, Avisail Garcia singled home Cabrera to get Chicago within a run.

Locke, though, retired Adam LaRoche, and Pittsburgh's bullpen closed out the win. Melancon pitched a 1-2-3 ninth and collected his 22nd save.

Game Notes

Pirates catcher Francisco Cervelli had caught 56 consecutive scoreless innings before the White Sox scored in the sixth ... Pittsburgh outfielder Starling Marte went 0-for-3, ending a string of five straight multi-hit games ... White Sox manager Robin Ventura was ejected by home plate umpire Alfonso Marquez in the fourth inning for arguing an interference call on Cabrera, which negated an Eaton steal ... In the last 25 games , Pirates starting pitchers have gone 18-3 with a 1.96 ERA ... The Pirates go for the sweep of the four-game, home- and-home series with Gerrit Cole facing Jeff Samardzija on Thursday.