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Pirates aim to extend Phillies' road woes with sweep

Jun 14, 2015 - 12:40 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - Despite losing his most recent start, Pirates right- hander A.J. Burnett has been on a roll since beginning the season without a victory in his initial five starts.

Burnett will be back on the mound Sunday afternoon when Pittsburgh aims to complete a three-game sweep against the Philadelphia Phillies at PNC Park.

Burnett's last start was a 2-0 loss to the Brewers in the Steel City Monday night despite the hurler giving up only one run over seven innings. He has won six of his last seven starts after going 0-1 with a 1.45 ERA in his first five appearances.

Burnett, who had a career-high 18 losses while pitching for the Phillies in 2014, won at Philadelphia on May 12 with seven solid innings. He's 7-9 with a 4.78 ERA and two complete games in 21 career appearances (20 starts) versus the Phillies. As a Pirate, he has gone 2-0 with a 2.89 ERA versus the Phillies.

Cole Hamels, who is 0-2 over his last three starts, toes the rubber and will try to help the Phillies snap a nine-game road skid. It's their longest losing streak outside Philadelphia since an 11-game slide from July 20-Aug. 11, 2013.

On Monday, Hamels lost to the Reds for the first time in his career. The left- hander allowed five runs on eight hits with seven strikeouts and two walks over six innings. The 31-year-old Hamels entered Monday's game with a 9-0 record in 13 regular-season starts against Cincinnati. He also tossed a shutout against the Reds in Game 3 of the 2010 NLCS.

As far as facing the Pirates, Hamels is 3-2 with a 2.73 ERA versus Pittsburgh in his career. The last time he faced the Bucs was May 13 this year at Citizens Bank Park. Hamels finished with nine strikeouts over his seven frames in Philadelphia's 3-2 win.

On Saturday, Gerrit Cole threw six solid innings and became the majors' first 10-game winner in a 4-3 final. Cole (10-2) gave up two runs -- one earned -- on five hits and didn't walk a batter while striking out seven. The right- hander retired the final nine batters he faced and left with his club up 4-2.

After stranding a runner at second in the seventh, the Phillies opened the eighth with three straight hits off reliever Tony Watson. Ben Revere doubled and scored on a pinch-hit single by Jeff Francoeur.

Chase Utley followed with a single to end an 0-for-24 slump and Ryan Howard, who struck out three times against Cole, walked to load the bases.

"Things got a little crazy there," Watson said. "I just tried to stay composed, make my pitches and get us out of there."

Watson was able to escape with the lead intact thanks to two force outs at the plate and a groundout to second.

"It really came down to the eighth inning," said Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg. "Put ourselves in a good situation, not only to tie, but possibly win."

Mark Melancon tossed a 1-2-3 ninth to earn his 20th save of the season.

Andrew McCutchen collected two RBI and Starling Marte had three hits and knocked in a run for the Pirates, who have won 17 of their last 24 games.

The Phillies, who have lost nine of their last 10 overall, went 1-for-13 with runners in scoring position, this after going 0-for-9 in the same situation on Friday.

The Pirates have gone 8-0 at home this season in day games. They also swept the Phillies in a three-game series in Pittsburgh last year and have gone 30-16 all-time at PNC Park.