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Walker, Pirates rally past Blue Jays

May 4, 2014 - 6:57 AM Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Neil Walker's two-run double proved to be the deciding factor as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 8-6, in the second game of an interleague set at PNC Park.

Tied at 6-6 in the bottom of the eighth, Ike Davis and Josh Harrison both singled to put men on the corners with one out. Walker doubled off the wall in center to clear the bases and put the Pirates ahead for good.

"Part of the reason I think you pull it off is you keep pushing and you keep believing," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle. "The guys keep rooting each other on, keep going up there trying to get something done."

Jordy Mercer drove in two runs and Harrison scored twice as the Pirates have taken two straight against the Blue Jays.

Bryan Morris (3-0) earned the win after pitching a perfect eighth inning. Starter Francisco Liriano gave up five runs -- four earned -- on six hits with three walks across 3 2/3 frames.

Jose Bautista finished with two hits, including a solo homer while scoring twice, and Brett Lawrie went 3-for-5 with an RBI and run scored as Toronto has dropped eight of 10.

Todd Redmond (0-3) was tagged with the loss after giving up two runs on three hits with two walks in 2/3 of an inning in the eighth. Starter R.A. Dickey surrendered three runs on five hits with four walks in six-plus innings of work.

Steve Tolleson reached second on a throwing error by catcher Tony Sanchez to lead off the third for Toronto. Josh Thole singled to left and Tolleson came around but was thrown out at the plate by Starling Marte in left field.

After Dickey grounded out, Jose Reyes doubled on a line drive to center to plate Thole and open the scoring.

The Blue Jays added to their lead in the fourth. With men on first and second, Lawrie doubled to score Bautista. Colby Rasmus' single brought Edwin Encarnacion around and Tolleson grounded into a double play that scored Lawrie. Thole singled, Dickey reached on a throwing error, and Reyes walked before Liriano issued a bases-loaded walk to make it a 5-0 game.

Pittsburgh got two back in the home half. With the bases loaded and one out, Pedro Alvarez scored on Dickey's wild pitch and Gaby Sanchez came home on Clint Barmes' groundout for a 5-2 score.

Bautista crushed a solo shot to left to make it, 6-2, in the top of the sixth.

Barmes doubled to lead off the bottom of the seventh. Aaron Loup then took over for Dickey and got Davis on a groundout that moved Barmes up to third. He scored on Harrison's double to left. Walker singled and Andrew McCutchen walked to load the bases.

"I felt pretty strong tonight," Dickey said. "But Loup is really good. He had a tough night tonight ... I thought it was a good call. It just didn't work out."

Alvarez grounded out to first to score Harrison. Mercer came on to pinch-hit for Jeanmar Gomez and doubled on a line drive to center to score Walker and McCutchen and tie the game at six.

Game Notes

The Blue Jays placed pitcher Brandon Morrow on the 15-day disabled list and recalled pitcher Chad Jenkins from Triple-A Buffalo prior to the game ... Pittsburgh placed pitcher Stolmy Pimentel on the 15-day disabled list, optioned pitcher Brandon Cumpton to Triple-A Indianapolis, recalled pitcher Jared Hughes from Indianapolis, and selected the contract of pitcher Vin Mazzaro from Indianapolis on Saturday ... Pittsburgh went 6-for-15 with runners in scoring position, while Toronto went 5-for 11 with RISP.