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Pirates capitalize on error to take rubber match from O's

Jun 23, 2011 - 12:09 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - An error by Blake Davis in the fifth inning allowed the tying and go-ahead runs to score, as Pittsburgh topped Baltimore, 5-4, in the rubber match of a three-game series at PNC Park.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-4 with a run batted in and Neil Walker added an RBI for the Pirates, who have won their last two games after a four-game skid.

Kevin Correia (9-6) earned the win for the Bucs despite giving up four runs on nine hits over six innings.

Joel Hanrahan got his 20th save for Pittsburgh after tossing a perfect ninth inning.

"We threw up zeros out of the bullpen and Correia gave us everything he had to get through the sixth," said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle.

Nick Markakis went 3-for-5 with an RBI and J.J. Hardy was 2-for-5 with a double and two RBI for the Orioles, who have lost four of their last six.

Zach Britton (6-5) was tagged with the loss for Baltimore, giving up five runs -- three of which were earned -- on seven hits over six frames.

"A lot of the base hits (Zach) gave up were of the groundball variety. He pitched very well and deserved a better fate," said Baltimore manager Buck Showalter.

Down 4-3 in the fifth, the Pirates jumped ahead after two runs scored on the fielding error by Davis, who made his major league debut.

Brandon Wood singled to open the inning, then moved to second on a Michael McKenry base hit to center. Both runners moved up after a Correia sacrifice bunt and scored when Josh Harrison roped a grounder to second that skipped between Davis' legs.

The Pirates' pitching staff held on to the lead. Correia pitched a scoreless sixth, and Chris Resop and Jose Veras recorded the next six outs to get the ball to Hanrahan.

Pittsburgh jumped out to a 2-0 lead in the first, when Jose Tabata led off with a swinging bunt down the third base line and Harrison perfectly executed a bunt. McCutchen singled to left-center to plate Tabata, and Harrison scored when Walker grounded into a double play.

But the Orioles rallied twice to move in front.

In the third, Britton and Hardy led off with singles before Markakis laced a double to right, scoring Britton and moving Hardy to third. Adam Jones then grounded out to second base, allowing Hardy to score.

The Orioles grabbed a 4-2 lead in the fourth, when Luke Scott and Mark Reynolds set the table with consecutive leadoff singles. Both used heads-up baserunning to advanced on Davis' fly out to center, then scored on a double by Hardy.

Pittsburgh cut its deficit to one in the bottom of the fourth. McCutchen doubled to deep center field, moved to third on a wild pitch and scored on Walker's groundout to short.

Game Notes

The Pirates have scored 49 first-inning runs this season...Pittsburgh's bullpen allowed just one run in 14 1/3 innings in the series...Markakis extended his hitting streak to 13 games...Baltimore fell to 4-5 in interleague play this season.