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Pirates take down Blue Jays

Jul 1, 2011 - 7:11 AM Toronto, ON (Sports Network) - Brandon Wood hit a two-run home run to help the Pittsburgh Pirates take a 6-2 win over the Toronto Blue Jays in the finale of a three-game series.

Alex Presley, Andrew McCutchen, Matt Diaz and Ronny Cedeno each drove in a run for the Pirates, who have won six of their last eight. Jeff Karstens (6-4) pitched seven innings to get the win, giving up two runs on five hits with a walk and two strikeouts.

Yunel Escobar and J.P. Arencibia hit solo home runs for the Blue Jays, who had won four of six coming into the contest. Brett Cecil (1-3) started his first game since April 20 and was tagged for all six runs on eight hits with three walks and six strikeouts over 6 1/3 innings.

"I thought tonight Brett pitched with improved overall stuff from April," said Blue Jays manager John Farrell. "It was clear he's gained some arm strength from his time at [Triple-A Las Vegas], and with the exception of the changeup that he left up in the zone to Wood, I thought he made some decent pitches."

The Pirates went on top in the first inning, as Presley led off with a triple and came home when McCutchen grounded out.

It was a 2-0 game in the fifth after Josh Harrison started the frame with a double, moved to third on a sacrifice bunt from Michael McKenry and crossed the plate on Presley's sacrifice fly.

Karstens had limited Toronto to just three singles and a walk through the first four innings, but the Blue Jays tied the game in the fifth on solo homers from Arencibia and Escobar.

However, the Pirates got the lead right back in the sixth when Lyle Overbay and Cedeno smacked consecutive doubles. Wood then hit his third home run of the year for a 5-2 advantage.

"You're really just looking to stay through the middle," Wood said. "You don't want to inside-out too much and cut down your swing trying to get a guy over. I was just looking to drive a ball."

Pittsburgh added a run in the seventh on a Diaz single that scored McCutchen, who had doubled with one out.

After Karstens set the Blue Jays down in order in the seventh, Chris Resop pitched around a one-out walk in the eighth. Tony Watson and Jose Veras pitched the ninth to cap the win.

Game Notes

With 16 wins in June, it's the first time the Pirates have had a winning month since August of 2007...The Pirates batted 3-for-7 with runners in scoring position while Toronto was 0-for-5 and stranded five...The Pirates begin a four-game series in Washington on Friday...The Blue Jays host the Phillies for a three-game weekend set.