Walker homers in Pirates’ win

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

The hometown kid’s first home run helped the Pirates do what they do best — beat the Chicago Cubs.

Pittsburgh-area native Neil Walker hit a two-run homer to the deepest part of the ballpark in left-center to put the Pirates ahead in the eighth and they beat the Cubs for the seventh time this season, 3-2 on Tuesday night.

Walker, the Pirates’ first-round draft choice in 2004 who went to the high school that won the Western Pennsylvania district championship Tuesday night, hit a 0-1 pitch from Ted Lilly (1-5) with Andrew McCutchen on and one out.

“This goes back to being 5 or 6 years old at Three Rivers Stadium, sitting in peanut heaven,” Walker said. “Getting drafted by the Pirates, this is just a Cinderella story. It’s incredible.”

The Pirates improved to 7-1 against the Cubs this season — they’re 15-30 against everyone else — and have won nine of their past 10 against Chicago overall.

Xavier Nady — one of several backups in the Cubs lineup — had four hits, including his third home run, but Chicago lost for the fourth time in five games.

Pittsburgh’s Garrett Jones homered for the second consecutive day, Joel Hanrahan (2-1) pitched a perfect top of the eighth and Octavio Dotel a perfect ninth for his 12th save.

“It’s a great moment for Neil, a hometown kid hitting his first home run like that, putting us ahead in the eighth,” Pirates manager John Russell said. “We’re very excited for him. It’s something he’ll never forget.”

Cubs manager Lou Piniella, trying desperately to find a lineup that will produce consistent offense, juggled his starters again. Chicago had scored only nine runs in its previous four games.