Bucs get close call — and big win

Pittsburgh’s three-run seventh inning started with a controversial call.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — San Francisco was fuming over its latest loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Adam LaRoche hit a go-ahead single in a three-run seventh inning, and the Pirates rallied for a 5-4 victory Thursday and a three-game sweep.

The rally started when pinch-hitter Nyjer Morgan bunted down the third-base line and was ruled safe at first by umpire Ron Kulpa for a single. Replays appeared to show Morgan did not beat the throw.

“I had a great view of it and there was no doubt in my mind that he was out,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s a huge call. Instead of getting the first out there, now they have a rally going.”

The Pirates trailed 4-2 when Morgan — who was optioned to Triple-A after the game — reached against Matt Cain (1-3).

“When we watched the replay, it looked like he was out to us,” Cain said.

Freddy Sanchez, 7-for-13 after being moved to the leadoff slot for the first time this week, followed with a ground-rule double and Nate McLouth hit sacrifice fly to score Morgan.

Jason Bay’s double tied the score, Jack Taschner relieved and, one out later, NL RBIs leader Xavier Nady was intentionally walked. LaRoche, who hit .174 in April, then lined a single to right just over the outstretched arm of a leaping Eugenio Velez.

“I’m just kind of getting to where I’m confident against left-handers again,” said LaRoche, who has a six-game hitting streak but was hitting only .143 against lefties. “It’s nice to get in and get a big hit.”

Pittsburgh has won 13 of its last 15 games against San Francisco and swept a three-game series from the Giants in three straight seasons, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. San Francisco has lost four in a row overall.

Franquelis Osoria (2-1) pitched a one-hit seventh, and John Grabow and Tyler Yates combined on a one-hit eighth. Matt Capps finished for his eighth save in as many chances, striking out pinch-hitter John Bowker with a runner on second to end the game.

“There’s been so many games we were coming back in, but we haven’t been getting that last hit,” Pittsburgh manager John Russell said. “A huge key for us today was that we went ahead and got that extra hit that put us over the top.”

Sanchez had three hits and scored twice, and Bay went 3-for-4 with a run and an RBI.