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McLouth homers twice as Pirates hammer Giants

May 7, 2008 - 3:36 AM By Chris Adamski PA SportsTicker Contributing Writer

PITTSBURGH (Ticker) -- Nate McLouth has been doing plenty of things a center fielder hasn't done in a long time for the Pittsburgh Pirates. Now, he's done something no member of the Pirates has done in nearly 59 years.

McLouth homered twice and Zach Duke threw 7 1/3 solid innings as Pittsburgh cruised to a 12-6 victory over the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday night.

McLouth, who has six home runs in his past nine games, became the first Pittsburgh player to hit two home runs in consecutive home games since Ralph Kiner did so on September 11-13, 1949.

McLouth also had two homers in a win against Philadelphia on April 27 before the Pirates left for a six-game road trip.

"I heard that interesting stat," said McLouth, who leads National League center fielders in virtually every offensive category. "That was a while ago. But it's kind of quirky. It comes nine days apart, so it wasn't like it was two games in a row. But we got off to a big lead we won both those games."

Adam LaRoche also homered as every Pirates' starter except for Duke scored at least one run. Every starter except for Duke and Jason Bay had an RBI, and all but Bay had at least a hit for Pittsburgh, which had lost 13 of its past 18 entering the game.

"It was a good team win," said Duke, who won for the first time since June 12, 2007. "We played very well."

Ex-Pirate Jose Castillo hit a three-run homer and Rich Aurilia had three hits and scored two runs for the Giants, who have lost 11 of their past 13 against Pittsburgh.

A rookie phenom in 2005, Duke (1-2) was winless in his previous 12 starts. The lefthander allowed three runs and eight hits with three walks and three strikeouts.

"The way he pitched is what we've been looking for," Pirates manager John Russell said. "When our starting pitchers execute their pitches and have confidence in what they're doing, good things happen. Zach pitched a really solid game. He was in the zone, attacking hitters."

The Pirates took a 3-0 lead in the third off Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez (2-2), courtesy of Freddy Sanchez's RBI single, and McLouth's two-run homer into the right-field seats. McLouth's other homer was a solo shot to right in the sixth.

"He showed at the end of last year he has the ability to hit the ball out of the park," Russell said, referring to the 10 home runs McLouth hit in August and September.

"He's putting together quality at-bats whether it's a lefthanded or righthanded pitcher," Russell said. "That enables him to get good pitches to hit, and he has the kid of swing and bat quickness that some balls are going to go out for him. He's a complete hitter."

LaRoche's blast to right field - a two-run shot - came the following inning.

LaRoche, who was hitting .167 with only one home run and five RBI through Saturday, is 6-for-12 with two home runs, five RBI and three runs scored in his past three contests, raising his average to .206.

Pittsburgh tacked on three more runs in the fifth and the rout was on. Back-to-back doubles by Ryan Doumit and Xavier Nady scored Sanchez and then Bay and Doumit to make it 8-0.

Sanchez, who lost for the first time since his first start of the season, allowed seven runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 4 1/3 innings.

"He was up (in the strike zone)," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "He had trouble getting it down, and I think he struggled with the mound a little bit. It seemed like he had a really tough time getting the ball where he wanted tonight."

The Pirates scored three more in the seventh off of Brad Hennessey.

San Francisco scored one in the seventh when Dan Ortmeier doubled in Aurilia to break up the shutout. Castillo's three-run homer - his second of the season - came off Sean Burnett in the eighth.

"I am happy I hit a home run against my former team, but I'm not happy we didn't get the win," Castillo said. "Hopefully, I'll hit one (Wednesday) and we'll get a win."