Pirates lose again, 4-3 to Diamondbacks

PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Arizona Diamondbacks probably don’t win the type of game they did Wednesday night during the first half of their season. The Pittsburgh Pirates are finding ways to lose games of all types.

Stephen Drew hit a tie-breaking two-run single in the eighth inning and streaking Arizona rallied to beat floundering Pittsburgh 4-3.

Pinch-hitter Alex Romero also had a tying RBI single in the eighth for Arizona, which has won four in a row and six of seven. Ryan Roberts homered for the third time in two games for the Diamondbacks, who are 18-10 since bottoming out at 31-49 after 80 games.

“We’re definitely pulling together, I can tell you that,” said Doug Davis, who allowed two runs and four hits over seven innings. “It is different. The unity is there. When you win, it’s really easy to come together as a team and play hard.”

Andy LaRoche and Garrett Jones homered for the Pirates, who have lost four in a row and nine of 11.

Jones hit his team-best 11th homer off Chad Qualls to cut it to 4-3 with one out in the ninth. But Qualls got Steve Pearce to ground out and struck out LaRoche to pick up his 21st save in 25 opportunities.

“It feels like last year, where everybody’s together, and even though we’re down, it doesn’t seem like it anymore,” Drew said. “Hopefully we keep this thing rolling ... We’re playing better, and it’s showing, and we’re having fun.”

Davis (6-10) struck out five and walked two in beating the Pirates for the second time in 11 days.

Ross Ohlendorf labored through six effective innings and was in line to become the first Pirates pitcher to win 10 games in a season since 2007 before the bullpen blew a 2-1 lead.

Jesse Chavez followed Ohlendorf with 11‚Ñ3 scoreless innings and was replaced by Joel Hanrahan (1-4) after Miguel Montero grounded out to open the eighth.

Roberts then walked and Chad Tracy reached when Hanrahan threw a comebacker into the dirt in front of second base.

Romero followed with a single to left, and Roberts just beat the throw home. After pinch hitter Josh Whitesell grounded out, Drew lined a single into center field to give Arizona a 4-2 lead.

“With two outs, I’m really just trying to get something out and over, and he left it up,” Drew said. “I put a good swing on it, and it got a good result.”

“It is tough,” Hanrahan said, “because Ross went out there and pitches a great game ... and then you blow it.”

The Diamondbacks set a club record when Davis pitched a scoreless first. That extended Pittsburgh’s scoreless streak against Arizona to 29 innings, most by Diamondbacks pitching against any opponent.