PNC PARK Nunez leads Bucs past Colorado

The Pittsburgh pitcher raised his career record to 3-8.
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- The Pittsburgh Pirates weren't sure if second baseman Abraham Nunez would play Saturday against the Colorado Rockies.
They were glad he did.
Nunez drove in the only run and turned the game-ending double play in a 1-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies.
Nunez was questionable for the game because his wife gave birth to their son, Abraham Jr., at 3:59 p.m. The game started at 6:35 p.m., and Nunez arrived at the ballpark at 5:50 p.m.
"It's been quite a day for me," said Nunez, who drove in Randall Simon with a second-inning groundout. "My wife had a baby in the afternoon, then I helped my team win a game at night. It'd be hard to top this day anytime soon."
The pitchers' duel came one night after Pittsburgh beat the Rockies 12-11.
Pitchers' duel
Right-hander Brian Meadows (2-1) replaced recently traded Jeff Suppan in the Pirates' rotation and allowed five singles in seven innings. It was his second start of the season and first since May 25. He walked one and struck out three.
Suppan led the Pirates with 10 victories before he was traded to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday.
"You always tell yourself you're going to go out there and throw a shutout," Meadows said. "Realistically, though, you know it usually isn't going to happen, especially against a team like the Rockies. I'm very pleased."
The largest crowd of the season -- 37,820 -- at PNC Park saw Meadows throw 93 pitches before he was removed for a pinch-hitter in the seventh. Brian Boehringer pitched 11/3 innings before giving way to Lincoln.
Rockies starter Jason Jennings (10-9) lost despite pitching three-hit ball for seven innings.
Ending the threat
Colorado threatened to tie it in the ninth, putting runners on first and third against reliever Brian Boehringer. Right-hander Mike Lincoln came in to face Jay Payton. On Lincoln's first pitch, Payton lined a one-bounce shot to shortstop Jack Wilson, who went to his knees to field it.
Wilson flipped the ball to Nunez, who forced out Larry Walker and threw out the speedy Payton at first. Replays, however, indicated that Payton beat the throw.
The Rockies certainly thought so. Normally mild-mannered first-base coach Dave Collins argued vehemently, as did manager Clint Hurdle.
"We should still be playing," Hurdle said.
"It was bang-bang, that's for sure," said Lincoln, who notched his fourth save in six tries. "I don't know if he was safe or out, but I do know it was an exciting way to end it."
Rockies outfielders Preston Wilson and Walker were involved in a violent collision in the third inning while chasing Jason Kendall's drive to the warning track in right-center.
Just as Wilson caught the ball, Walker crashed into him, sending them tumbling to the ground. Wilson held onto the ground, and both players were down on the track for several seconds before Rockies medical personnel could attend to them. After about four minutes of medical attention, both players rose to their feet and stayed in.
COLORADOPITTSBURGH
abrhbiabrhbi
Wmack ss4000TRdmn cf4000
Blliard 2b4010Kendall c3000
Helton 1b3000BGiles lf2000
PrWlsn cf3000RSndrs rf4000
LWalkr rf4010Simon 1b2100
Uribe pr0000Rivera 1b0000
Payton lf4010JHrndz 3b3010
Stynes 3b3010JWilsn ss3010
CJhson c3020ANunez 2b3011
JJnngs p2000Mdows p1000
RReyes ph1000Stairs ph1000
Fentes p0000Bhrngr p0000
Lincoln p0000
Totals31060Totals26131
Colorado000000000--0
Pittsburgh01000000x--1
DP--Pittsburgh 1. LOB--Colorado 6, Pittsburgh 6. 2B--JHernandez (13), JWilson (14). S--Meadows.
IPHRERBBSO
Colorado
JJennings L,10-9731134
Fuentes100010
Pittsburgh
Meadows W,2-1750013
Boehringer1 1-310011
Lincoln S,4 2-300000
Umpires--Home, Chuck Meriwether; First, Tim Welke; Second, Lance Barksdale; Third, Gary Cederstrom. T--2:24. A--37,820.