Marte’s single drives in winner
PHOENIX — Starling Marte snuck a seeing-eye single past a diving shortstop to score Neil Walker with two outs in the ninth inning, and the Pirates slipped past the Arizona Diamondbacks late for a 2-1 win Saturday night at Chase Field.
“We just had to claw on offense to finish it off,” manager Clint Hurdle said, “and we did.”
The save went to closer Mark Melancon, his third in as many days, but the real savior was left-hander Tony Watson.
After allowing two singles to lead off the eighth, the All-Star left-hander mowed down Paul Goldschmidt, pinch-hitter Mark Trumbo and Aaron Hill in succession.
“They don’t call him ‘The Ice Man’' for nothing,” Walker said later, gesturing toward Watson.
The victory extended the Pirates’ winning streak to four games and pushed them two games over .500, tying the Chicago Cubs for second place in the National League Central Division.
The Pirates evened their road record to 4-4.
Melancon allowed two runners in the bottom of the ninth, but the first, pinch-runner Nick Ahmed, was gunned down by Francisco Cervelli trying to steal second with one away.
“Cervelli showed up,” Hurdle said.
Walker doubled twice, his second and third of the series, and extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Each of the Pirates’ six runs so far in the series have come with two outs.
Right-hander A.J. Burnett scattered five hits and two walks over seven innings, striking out four.
After laboring slightly in the early innings, he needed just 26 pitches to get through his final three innings.
Burnett allowed one run or fewer for the third start in a row, tying a career-best streak in his 17-year big league career.
But, again, he didn’t get much run support. In Burnett’s 25 innings this season, the Pirates offense has scored just
four runs.
“As long as the Pirates win, I win,” Burnett said.
It was more plus pitching by Pirates starters, who have a combined 2.04 ERA this year.
Burnett entered the game 10 strikeouts behind Los Angeles Dodgers legend Sandy Koufax and 14 away from becoming the 41st pitcher in major league history to reach 2,400 career strikeouts.
A sluggish Pirates offense managed just four hits off right-hander Rubby De La Rosa, who struck out a career-high eight in six innings.
After the Pirates got on the board with two doubles in the fourth, De La Rosa sent down the final 10 batters he faced.
In the second, the Diamondbacks took their first lead of the series.
With two outs, Chris Owings singled to right, stole second on a sinker in the dirt and scored when Gregory Polanco bobbled Tuffy Gosewisch’s bouncing single to right.
Burnett singled through the hole to lead off the third, but he was cut down on a fielder’s choice, and the potential rally was thwarted.
Burnett’s hit was the second in as many nights by a Pirates pitcher.
Walker roped a standup double down the right-field line in the fourth, and Pedro Alvarez drove him in with a double to right.
It was all the help Burnett would get. He was replaced in the eighth by pinch-hitter Andrew Lambo, and relieved by Watson. Watson struck out Hill to end a roller coaster eighth, and Cervelli pumped his fists and roared.
“I didn't see that [inning] unfolding like it did when I came out of the gate, “Watson admitted.
With closer Addison Reed on in the ninth, Walker sliced a double into the gap with two outs, and Marte brought him home to give the Pirates their first and only lead of the game.