CHRISTOPHER PANSINO – OVATHLETICS.COM
The Pirates continue to avoid the 100 loss mark after a two run homer by Neil Walker lifted the Pirates to a 4-3 win Sunday afternoon.
The Pirates are just two losses away from the big 100 and with 13 games left it would take a miracle for the Pirates to avoid the mark yet again. Last season the Pirates avoided the mark by one game, but partly due to the last game being cancelled.
Sunday the Pirates fell behind Arizona 3 -1 going into the eighth inning.
The Pirates scored in the first off of lead off homer by Andrew McCutchen. This was his 16 homer of the season and proved a starting point for the center fielder who went 2-for-4 day.
But Arizona answered back scoring three runs off of starter Zack Duke. Duke allowed two run in the fourth inning off two RBI doubles by Adam LaRoche and John Hester. Duke would also give up a solo homer to Ryan Roberts before being pulled in the eighth inning. But the Bucs balled out Duke from getting his 15th loss of the season.
And the Pirates did just that, with a rally in the bottom of the eighth putting the Pirates in position for Walker to win the game.
And with Jose Tabata on base, Neil Walker decked a ball into the bullpen in left-center field for his 12th of the season. This is the third time Walker has had a late inning homer to give the Pirate the lead at PNC Park. The three run eighth inning gave the Pirates just enough to get the win today.
The Pirates swept the Diamondbacks to the delight of many hardcore fans that skipped the Steelers game today to come out and support the team. The Pirates have tomorrow off before continuing their home stand with St. Louis.
