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05/03 20:34 CDT Rockies lead from start to finish for the first time this year
in 3-2 victory over skidding Pirates
Rockies lead from start to finish for the first time this year in 3-2 victory
over skidding Pirates
By WILL GRAVES
AP Sports Writer
PITTSBURGH (AP) --- Ryan McMahon homered into the Allegheny River, Cal
Quantrill pitched into the eighth inning and the Colorado Rockies finally held
onto a lead during a 3-2 win over the struggling Pittsburgh Pirates on Friday
night.
Colorado trailed in each of its first 31 games this season, a modern-era
record. But not this time around.
McMahon put the Rockies in front when he opened the sixth with a drive over the
right-field stands against Martn Prez for his fifth homer.
Elehuris Montero and Brendan Rodgers added RBI singles later in the sixth, and
Quantrill (1-3) and two relievers did the rest as Colorado led wire to wire for
the first time since beating the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 in September.
Jake Bird struck out Andrew McCutchen with two on to end the eighth. Jalen
Beeks gave up a two-run homer to Oneil Cruz in the ninth but recorded two outs
for his first save of the season.
The Rockies flirted with ending the streak this week in Miami when they took an
early five-run lead on the Marlins only to fall in extra innings.
Quantrill beat the Pirates for the first time by limiting Pittsburgh to three
hits with nine strikeouts. His only trouble spot came in the second when Rowdy
Tellez and Jared Triolo singled with one out. Quantrill fanned Jack Suwinski
and Joey Bart to end the threat, beginning a stretch in which he retired 18 of
19 batters. He was removed after hitting Bart with two outs in the eighth.
Triolo had two hits for the Pirates, but Pittsburgh's lineup sputtered once
again.
The Pirates have dropped five straight and 14 of 17 following an 11-5 start.
Pittsburgh has scored two runs or fewer 13 times during its swoon and is 3 for
40 with runners in scoring position over its last seven games.
That lack of production is putting a lot of pressure on the pitching staff.
Prez (1-2) matched Quantrill through five innings but ran into trouble in the
sixth when an 83-mph changeup to McMahon became the 71st baseball to land in
the Allegheny River since PNC Park opened in 2001.
Cruz's blast off Beeks in the ninth became the 72nd.
Prez, who has been solid in his first month with Pittsburgh, gave up eight
hits with four walks in 5 1/3 inning as his ERA ticked up to 3.15.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Rockies: LHP Kyle Freeland (left elbow strain) has begun playing catch though
there remains no timetable for a possible return. Freeland has been out since
April 15. ... Recalled RHP Angel Chivilli from Double-A Hartford and placed RHP
Justin Lawrence on the paternity list.
Pirates: Activated C Yasmani Grandal (left foot plantar fasciitis) off the
injured list and optioned C Henry Davis to Triple-A Indianapolis.
UP NEXT
The series continues on Saturday when hard-throwing Pittsburgh rookie Jared
Jones (2-3, 3.18 ERA) faces Colorado's Austin Gomber (0-2, 4.50 ERA).
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB
