Colorado defeats Pittsburgh

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Ty Wigginton hit a tiebreaking, three-run double in the eighth inning to give Colorado a 6-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night, keeping the Rockies atop the NL West four straight days for the first time since 2006.

With the bases loaded, Wigginton ripped a shot off reliever Jose Veras (0-1) and past diving third baseman Pedro Alvarez into the left-field corner.

At 5-2, the Rockies have tied the 1998 team for the second-best start in franchise history.

Both of Colorado’s losses have been in extra innings, including a 4-3 setback in 14 on Friday. Matt Belisle (1-0), one of eight pitchers used by Colorado manager Jim Tracy in that 5-hour-plus marathon, got the win.

With closer Huston Street unavailable, Matt Lindstrom worked the ninth for his first save, getting Steve Pearce to hit into a game-ending double play.

Seth Smith homered for the Rockies, lining a shot over the right-field wall that nearly rolled into a boat in the Allegheny River.

Ryan Doumit hit a two-run homer and Jose Tabata had a solo shot for Pittsburgh.

Veras walked Jonathan Herrera to open the eighth and Carlos Gonzalez followed with his third single. Veras struck out Troy Tulowitzki with a knee-buckling curveball and also fanned Smith, but hit Jose Lopez with a pitch to load the bases.

Wigginton then jumped on Veras’ first pitch, pulling the ball by Alvarez, who on Friday night robbed Wigginton of extra bases with a diving stab in the 10th on a nearly identical smash.

Tracy had few options in his bullpen after using Street for three innings Friday. In the ninth, Esmil Rogers, who started and won the series opener, was warming up.

The Pirates, who have dropped two of their first three at home, tied it 3-all in the seventh on pinch-hitter Matt Diaz’s RBI single off Belisle.