Bell, Bucs break out the bats

PITTSBURGH — After scoring just three runs in the first two games of their series with the Rockies, the Pirates’ broke out in a big way Thursday, setting season highs for runs and margin of victory in a 14-6 victory.

The offensive explosion was needed after the Rockies came back from an 8-0 deficit with a six-run sixth to make things interesting. But Josh Bell, Bryan Reynolds and Starling Marte homered in the seventh to power the Pirates.

Bell continued his torrid May by leading off the seventh with a solo home run, his 16th of the season and 10th of the month. He finished with three hits, a walk and two RBIs and is slugging .718, third-best in the majors.

“I’ve seen some pretty special things,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Bell’s hot stretch. “This would be right in that category . ... It’s been fantastically fun to watch.”

Reynolds followed Bell’s shot with a three-run homer to right-center field, his first career pinch homer. Marte then hit a two-run shot to left, with all three homers coming against Rockies reliever Carlos Estevez.

“It was a good day to hit. Everybody up and down was crushing the ball,” Reynolds said. “To bounce back and put some runs back on them and get a little cushion, it’s big.”

The Pirates got out of the gate hot, scoring four runs in the first. Gregory Polanco hit a two-run home run, Melky Cabrera hit a run-scoring double and Colin Moran drove him in with a single.

Rockies starter Antonio Senzatela (3-4) allowed eight runs in 31⁄3 innings.

GENE J. PUSKAR/AP Pirates first baseman Josh Bell kept up his power surge with his 10th home run of May.