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Mora helps Orioles defeat Pirates

Jun 14, 2008 - 3:42 AM By Rich Dubroff PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

BALTIMORE (Ticker) -- Melvin Mora's tiebreaking single in the sixth inning capped a six-run comeback and sparked the Baltimore Orioles to a 9-6 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in interleague play on Friday.

Pittsburgh amassed a 6-1 lead in the top of the third, but Baltimore scored a run in the fourth, three in the fifth and two more in the sixth to take a 7-6 lead.

In the bottom of the sixth with the Orioles trailing, 6-5, Brian Roberts singled in a run to knot the score before Mora grounded a single to left off reliever Franquelis Osoria (3-2), plating Adam Jones with the go-ahead tally.

"We never gave up," Mora said. "We fought to the end, and I'm glad we rallied tonight."

"We've got to pitch better," Pirates manager John Russell said. "We gave them a chance to get back in the game and it just got away from us."

Luke Scott added a solo homer in the seventh and Mora scored on a wild pitch in the eighth for the final runs of the game.

Mora went 3-for-4 for the Orioles, whose rallying effort matched the largest of the season. It was also the 15th time Baltimore has come back from at least a two-run deficit.

"You know, I'm running out of things to say about the way we come back," Orioles manager Dave Trembley said.

Brian Burres (5-5) won just his second game in his last nine starts despite allowing six runs and eight hits in six innings.

"Nobody cares about the score," Burres said. "We keep playing as hard as we can - up or down, nobody really dwells on it. We've just got to push forward and there's always a chance to win, no matter what the score."

After Jason Bay's double with one out in the fourth, Burres, Jim Johnson and George Sherrill retired the final 17 hitters to end the game.

"When we got close, (Burres) put zeroes on the board, and I knew we were going to win," Trembley said.

Sherrill earned his 22nd save by retiring the side in order in the ninth.

Pirates starter Phil Dumatrait had a 6-1 lead, but by the time he left after five innings, the Pirates were clinging to a 6-5 advantage.

"Obviously I didn't go my job," said Dumatrait, who gave up five runs, five hits and five walks. "I walked way too many guys."

The win put the Orioles (34-34) at the .500 mark, while the loss prevented the Pirates (33-35) from doing the same.