Duke leads Bucs to win

Associated Press

DENVER

Zach Duke threw six innings to help the Pittsburgh Pirates snap a four-game skid Tuesday night with a 4-2 win over a reeling Colorado Rockies team that lost Huston Street to a freak injury before the game.

The Rockies returned home from a disastrous 2-9 road trip and dropped their seventh straight contest. They were without their standout closer after Street bruised the right side of his abdomen when he was hit by a line drive as he warmed up in right field during batting practice.

Street was taken off the field by ambulance, examined at a local hospital and sent home to rest. His availability will be on a day-to-day basis.

Duke (5-9) picked up the win for a second straight outing, something that hasn’t happened for the lefty since his first two starts of the season. He gave up three hits and struck out four.

Evan Meek worked out of trouble in the seventh, stranding Miguel Olivo at third after he led off the inning with a double. Joel Hanrahan pitched the eighth and Octavio Dotel finished the ninth for his 21st save in 26 appearances.

The only bad frame for Duke came in the fifth when he surrendered back-to-back homers to Brad Hawpe and Clint Barmes.