Pirates rally in the fourth to sweep the Giants

Associated Press

SAN FRANCISCO

The way things are going for the Pittsburgh Pirates these days, even when they dig themselves into a hole there’s still hope.

“You start winning a few games, regardless of what the score is, if it’s early we know we’ve got a chance to make something happen,” Pirates center fielder Andrew McCutchen said.

The Pirates made something happen against the San Francisco Giants on Wednesday.

McCutchen had two hits, including a two-run homer, pinch-hitter Matt Joyce had a key two-run single, and Pittsburgh rallied from a four-run deficit to complete a three-game sweep of the Giants with a 6-5 victory.

“That’s us,” McCutchen added. “That’s what we do.”

The Pirates won their fourth straight game and sixth in seven. They remain a game behind St. Louis, which beat Houston 8-2, in the race for the NL wild card.

“I think this last week or two has really been fun for us,” Joyce said. “You can definitely tell guys are playing with that intensity and you can tell they’re hungry.”

McCutchen’s homer, his 17th, capped a six-run rally in the fifth inning that chased Giants starter Matt Cain (4-8).

Cain had allowed one hit and had faced just one batter over the minimum with a 4-0 lead going into his disastrous fifth inning, when the Pirates scored six runs on four walks, three hits and a hit batsman.

His first pitch to McCutchen was an 89 mph fastball over the middle of the plate, and the Pirates center fielder pounced.

Pirates starter Ivan Nova allowed four runs and six hits in four innings. He struck out five and allowed no walks. Nova, who won his first two starts since coming over in a deadline trade with the New York Yankees, was lifted for Joyce after Cain hit David Freese to start the fifth and then walked three straight batters.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of his decision to pinch-hit Joyce wasn’t a reflection on Nova’s performance.

“How do you know you’re going to have another shot with the bases loaded?” Hurdle asked. “You take a shot when the bases are full and see what can play out.”

Nova is 2-0 with a 4.41 ERA in three starts with the Pirates. He hasn’t allowed a walk in 16 1/3 innings with his new team.

“We like his stuff,” Hurdle said. “It was a tough day to be a National League pitcher. In the American League he’s probably still pitching.”