Pirates romp over Rockies

Photo by: Barry Gutierrez

AP

Photo

Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen (22) hits an RBI single, scoring Perdro Alvarez, on a pitch by Colorado Rockies' Esmil Rogers, during the fifth inning of a baseball game Sunday, May 1, 2011 in Denver. The Pirates won 8-4.

Associated Press

DENVER

The Pittsburgh Pirates used new blood and old knowledge to beat the Colorado Rockies on Sunday.

Xavier Paul had two hits in his first start for Pittsburgh and former Rockies reliever Joe Beimel pitched out of a jam in the sixth inning to lift the Pirates to an 8-4 win.

Paul was claimed off waivers from the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday and made an immediate impact. He hit a two-run triple to key a four-run rally in the second and added a single in the fourth.

“My mindset going into the game was just have fun,” he said. “To come up with a big hit, it feels great.”

Paul, who joined the team Thursday, had his first multihit game since July 20, 2010.

“He was on base three times, stole a base, handled his chances in left field, so it was a good first start for him,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.

Charlie Morton pitched into the sixth inning for his third win, Garrett Jones had two hits and Andrew McCutchen, Lyle Overbay and Pedro Alvarez also had two hits each for the Pirates, who took two of three at Coors Field. Pittsburgh won its fourth road series of the season, matching its total from the 2010 season.

Colorado ace Ubaldo Jimenez (0-2) struggled again. He threw three wild pitches, tying a club record, and his ERA rose to 7.20 through four starts.

“Before, I was trying to get my velocity back,” he said. “Right now I don’t have the control.”

Dexter Fowler and Todd Helton had two hits each for the Rockies.

Jimenez allowed four runs on six hits, struck out six and walked four. He needed 88 pitches to get through four innings in his shortest outing of the season. Last year, Jimenez failed to pitch into the sixth twice in 33 starts and dominated hitters en route to a 15-1 record at the All-Star break.

“Ubaldo lacked consistency today,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. “He did not command, he had deep counts.”

The Pirates broke the game open with a four-run fifth against reliever Esmil Rogers.