Pirates lose to Giants in ninth

Matt Capps threw the pitch scoring Eliezer Alfonzo with the game winner.
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) -- Eliezer Alfonzo has had quite a first week in the big leagues.
First, he hit a two-run homer against the Mets in his debut Saturday at Shea Stadium. He caught ace Jason Schmidt's 16-strikeout game Tuesday night -- then found himself in the middle of the action again two days later in his fourth career start.
Alfonzo scored the winning run on a wild pitch by Matt Capps with two outs in the ninth inning, and the San Francisco Giants rallied to beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-4 Thursday night.
"He's a good player -- a good hitter and a decent catcher," manager Felipe Alou said. "I liked what I saw in spring training."
Moises Alou hit a two-run homer and was at the plate with the bases loaded when Capps bounced a pitch past catcher Ronny Paulino and Alfonzo scurried home.
Rookie playing well
Alfonzo, a rookie catcher recently called up from Double-A Connecticut, blooped a single to left to start the inning. Pinch-hitter Steve Finley sacrificed him to second, then Randy Winn reached when second baseman Jose Castillo dropped a catch in shallow right for an error that moved Alfonzo to third.
"I can run. I want to steal bases, too," Alfonzo said, noting he didn't have the green light to go. "No chance. He gave me the yellow light."
Damaso Marte (0-4) intentionally walked Omar Vizquel, then Capps relieved to face Lance Niekro and got him to fly out following two earlier doubles and a single.
Ray Durham's blooper to left with two outs in the eighth tied the game, just the second hit with runners in scoring position in the first 21 chances by both teams. Roberto Hernandez blew his first save in three chances.
Armando Benitez (4-0) pitched the ninth for the win.
When Durham was asked afterward to describe the game, he laughed and snorted.
"It's a weird game, I will say that," he said.
Missed opportunities
Sean Casey had an RBI double among his four hits, but the Pirates missed too many opportunities. Pinch-hitter Craig Wilson doubled following Paulino's two-out walk in the ninth, but Jose Bautista flied out to center. Pittsburgh stranded 15 baserunners, one fewer than its season high, and lost for only the second time in its last seven games in San Francisco.
"It obviously boils down to this: When you leave as many baserunners on as we left, you're setting yourself up to get beat," Pirates manager Jim Tracy said.
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