Doumit’s 3-run homer powers Bucs’ victory

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Ryan Doumit had a big chunk of his season wiped out by an injury. He seems intent on making up for lost time.

Doumit went 4 for 4 and hit a tiebreaking three-run home run to lift the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Monday night.

Doumit’s homer in the fourth inning off Jake Westbrook (9-7) snapped a 1-1 tie and helped Pittsburgh break its three-game losing streak. The switch-hitting catcher matched a career high with his sixth four-hit game.

Doumit was on the disabled list from May 30-Aug. 2 after suffering a severely sprained left ankle in a home plate collision. He is 10 for 23 (.435) in eight games since being activated.

“There is always concern when somebody is coming back after being out for so long but he’s come back as clean as any player I’ve ever had,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s been in a pretty good place. He’s seeing the ball extremely well and he’s working extremely hard.”

Doumit, who has been plagued by injuries throughout his career, couldn’t come up with a reason for why he is hitting so well since his return.

“I really can’t put my finger on it,” he said. “I’m riding the wave right now and I just want to keep riding it as long as I can.”

St. Louis, which had won three of its last four, fell six games behind Milwaukee in the NL Central. The Brewers blanked the Los Angeles Dodgers 3-0 on Monday night.

Xavier Paul, who homered, and Neil Walker each had two hits for the Pirates, and James McDonald (8-6) pitched 5 2/3 uneven innings to end his three-start winless streak. McDonald allowed two runs and six hits while walking two and striking out four.

“It was a good win for the team and that’s the most important thing because we had a pretty tough ending to our road trip,” Doumit said, referring to the Pirates being swept in a three-game weekend series at Milwaukee.