Jones’ homer helps Pirates earn first three-game sweep

Associated Press

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The Pittsburgh Pirates are leaving Houston with their first three-game sweep of the season.

But the Pirates lost something during Thursday’s win.

Garrett Jones hit a three-run homer in the first inning and the Pirates added two runs in the sixth to regain the lead and hold on for a 5-4 win over the Astros.

The victory came on a day when Andrew McCutchen’s career-long 14-game hitting streak ended despite his single in the sixth inning.

The Pirates learned during the game that Major League Baseball’s scoring committee had unanimously ruled that a double he was credited with on Saturday against the Mets be changed to an error by the third baseman, ending what was the longest current streak in the majors.

Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said he was disappointed that McCutchen’s hitting streak ended that way.

But it was difficult for McCutchen to be too upset about the change with the team moving two games above .500 with the win.

It’s the first time the Pirates have been two games above .500 this late in a season since being 40-38 on July 2, 1999.

“We just swept the Astros,” McCutchen said. “It was nice to sweep them, felt real good about the sweep. We haven’t done that all season. I don’t think they can overturn us winning, so that’s cool. That’s something that they can’t protest.”

Houston scored two runs in the fourth inning before an RBI single by Hunter Pence tied it 3-3 in the fifth.

A fielding error by center fielder Michael Bourn allowed the Pirates to score a run to get back on top in the sixth before Josh Harrison doubled in an insurance run to make it 5-3.

“It was hit right at me,” Bourn said. “I dove for it, but the ball went the other way, and it hit off the side of my glove. That was pretty much the game.”

Pittsburgh starter James McDonald (5-4) allowed seven hits and three runs in 52/3 innings. He had a chance to lead the Pirates to a sweep against Philadelphia earlier this month, but allowed three runs and walked five in four-plus innings in the loss.

“It was big because the last time I had a chance for the series sweep in Philly, I didn’t perform to my ability,” he said of Thursday’s win. “I felt like I competed, kept us in the game.”