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Walker keys Pirates to win over Diamondbacks

Aug 9, 2012 - 6:16 AM Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Neil Walker doubled, homered and drove in five runs to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates past the Arizona Diamondbacks, 7-6, in the third installment of a four-game set at PNC Park.

Starling Marte and Jordy Mercer also homered for the Pirates, who have won nine of their last 14.

Kevin Correia (9-6) picked up the win in a spot start after giving up four runs -- three earned -- on six hits. He also struck out five over six innings.

"He had a challenge early but he settled down and competed well," said Pittsburgh mananger Clint Hurdle about Correia. "He did a good job for us out there tonight and I'm proud of him."

Joel Hanrahan picked up his NL-best 33rd save after striking out the side in the ninth.

Paul Goldschmidt had two RBI, Willie Bloomquist went 3-for-5 with two RBI and Stephen Drew scored three runs for the D-backs, who have lost four of their last five.

Ian Kennedy (10-9) was pegged with the loss after giving up six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits over four-plus innings. It was his shortest outing of the season. Kennedy also had a four-start winning streak snapped.

The D-backs struck early, scoring two in the first. Drew doubled and Bloomquist reached on a bunt single to put runners at the corners for Chris Johnson, who delivered with a base hit to score Drew. Goldschmidt then lifted a sacrifice fly to right to plate Bloomquist, who moved to third on Johnson's single.

Walker's three-run blast in the home half put the Pirates ahead. Andrew McCutchen and Jones hit a pair of two-out singles before Walker turned on a 1-2 fastball for his 13th homer of the year.

Marte's solo shot in the third put the Bucs up 4-2. It was the fourth homer he's hit since making his Major League debut July 26.

Arizona knotted it up at 4-4 in the fifth. Gerardo Para and Drew both walked to put runners at first and second with one out. Bloomquist followed with a double to plate Para and Drew scored on a fielding error by Pedro Alvarez. Goldschmidt ripped a hard grounder to third that took a nasty hop and Alvarez was unable to corral it.

But Pittsburgh countered with two in the home half. Walker clobbered a two-run double into the left-center gap to score Travis Snider and McCutchen. Snider singled to open the frame and McCutchen reached on an error to set the table for Walker. It was the second time in eight games that Walker drove in five runs.

Mercer's homer in the sixth gave the Pirates a 7-4 lead. It was the first homer of Mercer's career.

Arizona pushed one across in both the seventh and eighth to make it 7-6.

The D-backs scored one in the seventh but would leave the bases loaded. Drew walked then moved to third on a missed catch by Garrett Jones. Goldschmidt brought him home with a sacrifice fly in the seventh.

Justin Upton and Miguel Montero would both reach on fielding errors to load the bases but Tony Watson struck out Young to end the inning. An irate Young threw his bat and helmet and was immediately thrown out by home plate up Larry Vanover. Young had to be restrained by Arizona manger Kirk Gibson before leaving the field. Upton was ejected moments later by first base umpire Alfonso Marquez after throwing his own helmet

"I never got so amped up on the field before," said Young. "I never blew up like that. It's the first time I got tossed in my six-year career."

Bloomquist's single in the eighth scored Para to cap the scoring.

Game Notes

Walker tied Arizona's Aaron Hill for the NL lead in homers (13) for second baseman this season. He also tied a career-high with five RBI...Pittsburgh finished with four errors. Two were charged to Jones. Alvarez and Mercer accounted for the other two mishaps. The Pirates recalled pitcher Jeff Locke from Triple-A Indianapolis and optioned outfielder Alex Presley to Indianapolis...Kennedy is 16-3 in 20 second-half starts since 2011...The D- backs are 2-7 in their last nine games at PNC Park.