Hayes has 3 hits, scores go-ahead run as Pirates top Rockies

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Ke’Bryan Hayes had three hits and scored the tie-breaking run on Yoshi Tsutsugo’s infield single in the eighth inning as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 2-1 on Monday night.

Hayes singled to lead off the eighth against Tyler Kinley (1-1), stole second base and advanced to third on Daniel Vogelbach’s groundout. Tsutsugo then beat out a slow bouncer to second base, enabling Hayes to score.

David Bednar (1-0) escaped a first-and-second jam in the eighth to keep the game tied at 1. He followed with a scoreless ninth.

Josh VanMeter added two hits for the Pirates, who had lost three straight games. Connor Joe had two hits for the Rockies.

Pirates starter JT Brubaker gave up only one unearned run in 6 2/3 innings on five hits yet remained winless in nine starts this season. He struck out four and walked two.

Brubaker’s throwing error led to the Rockies eventually scoring their run in the fourth inning on Randal Grichuk’s double play to make it 1-all.

Rockies starter Chad Kuhl pitched 4 2/3 shaky innings but allowed only one run in his first start against his former team. He had four walks and one strikeout while throwing 103 pitches and allowing five hits.

Kuhl spent his first five seasons with the Pirates before being released last November.

The Pirates struck quickly for the game’s first run as Ben Gamel drew a leadoff walk, took second on a wild pitch and scored on Hayes’ double into the right-field corner.

The Rockies have lost 10 of their last 11 road games and eight of their last 12 games against the Pirates.

Pirates catcher Roberto Perez returned to the team after undergoing seasonending surgery to repair a ruptured tendon in his left hamstring. Perez is eligible for free agency at the end of the season and would like to return to Pittsburgh.

“I feel like I owe them another year of me,” said Perez, who was signed to a one-year, $5 million contract in the offseason. “I love it here. Great organization. They have treated me well. I love the coaching staff.”