Late homer by Mark Teahen lifts Royals over the Pirates

The Pirates dropped their seventh straight game.
KANSAS CITY, Mo. (AP) -- Mark Teahen's tie-breaking two-run home run off Salomon Torres in the eighth inning lifted Kansas City to a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Wednesday night.
Teahen, whose error at third base earlier in the game led to an unearned run, hit the first pitch from Torres (2-4) over the fence in right for his fourth home run. Emil Brown started the inning with a single.
The Royals, who still have the worst record in the majors, have won four of their last five. It was the seventh loss in a row for the Pirates, who are 1-7 this year against the American League.
Ambiorix Burgos pitched the ninth for his 11th save in 17 opportunities. Elmer Dessens (4-6) pitched 12/3 hitless innings for the win.
Snell starts well
Pittsburgh starter Ian Snell cruised through the first five innings before Joey Gathright, making his first start in center one day after coming over in a trade from Tampa Bay, singled to ignite a four-run inning.
One out later, Mark Grudzielanek's RBI single scored the speedy Gathright from second. After Doug Mientkiewicz walked, Brown had an RBI double and Matt Stairs chased Snell with an opposite-field RBI single that made it 4-3.
With two out, Angel Berroa slapped an opposite-field single into right off Matt Capps to tie the game 4-4.
Mike Wood's throwing error on an errant pickoff at second led to a Pittsburgh run in the first on Sean Casey's infield out. Then the Pirates added two in the second with the help of a throwing error by Teahen.
The Royals hadn't committed an error in nine straight games. Jose Castillo's RBI single a moment later off Teahen's glove brought in one run and then Joe Randa scored on an infield out by Ronny Paulino.
Paulino's RBI single made it 4-0 in the sixth.
Snell, going for his sixth win in seven starts, went 51/3 innings and gave up four runs and seven hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Wood went 52/3 innings for the Royals and was charged with four runs -- two earned -- and seven hits, with two walks and one strikeout.
Notes
The Royals reached agreement with their second-round draft pick, INF Jason Taylor of Kellam High in Virginia. KC has signed or agreed to terms with 18 of their picks including 2-through-7. ... After having troubles fielding in the earlier innings, Teahen made a terrific stop of Jose Bautista's hard smash in the fourth. The next batter, Jack Wilson, hit a hard bouncer to shortstop Angel Berroa, who threw him out from his knees. ... Sanchez has hit safely in his last nine games. ... Paulino swung so hard through a 3-2 pitch with two out in the eighth, he fell down.
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