Posey, McCutchen lead Giants past Pirates 13-10
By GIDEON RUBIN, Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — The San Francisco Giants finally got their offense going, and they needed it to survive another shaky performance from their bullpen.
Buster Posey got four hits, Andrew McCutchen homered against his former team and the San Francisco Giants defeated the Pittsburgh Pirates 13-10 on Friday night.
“They just started swinging with I think more authority,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said.
The Giants had lost three in a row and Pittsburgh had won three straight.
Posey broke out of a 0-for-13 stretch with his second four-hit game in less than two weeks. All four hits came in the first four innings as the Giants built a 10-2 lead.
He’s the first Giants player with four hits through the first four innings of a game since the team moved to San Francisco in 1958.
Posey and Alen Hanson each drove in three runs. McCutchen hit a leadoff homer and later drew four walks for a San Francisco team that batted .212 and averaged 2.7 runs over its previous six games.
“They were letting it go tonight,” Bochy said. “It was good to see them have some success, I mean we’ve been shut down, we’ve been due for a game like this where we break it open, even though they came back and made it a game. ”
Francisco Cervelli drove in five runs with three hits for the Pirates. His 11th home run of the season and fourth career grand slam, off reliever Pierce Johnson, closed Pittsburgh within 11-7 in the seventh inning.
Adeiny Hechavarria, playing his second game since being traded from Tampa Bay to Pittsburgh, went 2 for 2 with a home run.
Giants starter Derek Holland (6-8) gave up five runs in 6 1/3 innings.
A big night from the offense allowed him to be more aggressive.
“It’s huge,” Holland said. “The offense is putting in the work, and I’m little bit upset with myself. They put the runs up, I’ve got to keep the momentum on our side.”
Clay Holmes (1-2) was tagged for seven runs in 2 2/3 innings in his third career start.
“Our command was pretty inconsistent throughout the evening,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Clayton was so good the last time out. His fastball command was off and that complicates things.”
HIGH HEAT
Giants third baseman Evan Longoria was hit in the back by a 97 mph fastball by Pirates reliever Kyle Crick in the bottom of the seventh. Longoria initially stayed in the game but was pulled in the top of the eighth. Longoria said he felt fine after the game, but wasn’t certain about his playing status for Saturday’s game.
“I don’t think he had intent,” Longoria said. “He threw a couple more to the backstop and almost hit (Joe Panik), he just obviously didn’t have a very good feel for where the ball was going tonight.”
OFF DAYS
Pirates OF Gregory Polanco struck out as a pinch-hitter. Manager Clint Hurdle said Polanco will get another rest day in Sunday’s series finale.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: 1B Brandon Belt (hyperextended right knee) will start a rehab assignment with Triple-A Sacramento on Saturday, manager Bruce Bochy said. If all goes well, Belt could join the team for next week’s series against the Dodgers in Los Angeles, which starts Monday. … RHP Johnny Cueto, who underwent Tommy John surgery earlier this month, was moved to the 60-day DL. RHP Casey Kelly was selected to the Giants’ Major League roster in a corresponding move before Friday’s game. … RHP Derek Law was optioned to Triple-A Sacramento.
UP NEXT
RHP Trevor Williams (9-8, 3.88 ERA) will pitch Saturday for the Pirates. He has a 2.25 ERA without a decision in two career starts against the Giants. LHP Ty Blach (6-6, 4.28) will pitch for the Giants.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Pirates hit 3 HRs to back Nova in 10-5 win over Giants
By MICHAEL WAGAMAN, Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO (AP) — Ivan Nova had little problem extending Pittsburgh’s streak of strong road starts.
Three home runs, including a milestone shot by David Freese, gave the right-hander all the cushion he needed.
Nova allowed two runs in six innings, Freese hit his 100th career home run, and the Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 10-5 on Thursday night.
“Guys got balls over the plate and when we had them we nailed them,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said “And Nova was spot on through four. Some small misfires in the fifth and then a nice shutdown.”
Nova (7-6) lost to the Giants in May but was sharper this time. He retired the first 11 batters and didn’t allow a hit until Austin Slater’s leadoff single in the fifth. Nova yielded three hits and had three strikeouts.
Pirates starting pitchers have a 2.20 ERA over their last 10 road starts.
“We have good starting pitching,” Nova said. “We have had some guys pitch the way that they’ve been pitching and you just want to follow that. You want to pitch a good game too.”
Rich Rodriguez, Dovydas Neverauskas and Casey Sadler completed the six-hitter.
Adam Frazier added three singles and two RBIs, his fourth multi-hit game in the last six.
The Pirates have won three straight overall and improved to 8-2 in their last 10 at AT&T Park.
Joe Panik and Steven Duggar drove in two runs apiece for San Francisco.
Freese singled and scored on Diaz’s homer in the second then broke the game open with his milestone home run, a three-run blast off Mark Melancon in the seventh.
“I didn’t think it would be here, that’s for sure,” Freese said. “I think I got one here before, maybe just one. For a guy that pounds a ball into the ground, not too bad.”
Diaz and Bell homered off starter Andrew Suarez (4-8) in the second.
Former Pittsburgh star Andrew Cutchen went hitless in four at-bats but made a pair of sparkling defensive plays against his former team.
A five-time All-Star and a Gold Glove winner for the Pirates as a center fielder in 2012, McCutchen threw out Frazier at second after he lined a ball into right leading off the game. In the sixth, McCutchen raced into the alley in right-center and made a diving grab to rob Diaz of extra bases.
Pittsburgh scored five unearned runs in the seventh after back-to-back errors by second baseman Panik and third baseman Evan Longoria.
“You give up five in the seventh, that’s a pretty good punch there,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “That’s where it got away from us.”
LONG TIME COMING
Sadler allowed three unearned runs in his first appearance in the majors since April 12, 2015. The right-hander underwent Tommy John surgery in 2015 and was recalled from the minors on Sunday.
“This has got to be a very special evening for him, the fight, the perseverance and the resiliency to stay in the hunt and get back back and contribute in a major league game,” Hurdle said. “His stuff was clean.”
BONDS RETIREMENT
The Giants will retire the jersey of home run king Barry Bonds during a pregame ceremony Saturday. Bonds will be only the 10th player in franchise history to have his number retired.
ANOTHER BARRY’S BACK
Former San Francisco pitcher Barry Zito threw out the ceremonial first pitch before the game. Zito won 63 games for the Giants from 2007-13.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Giants: RHP Jeff Samardzija (shoulder inflammation) threw 40 pitches in a bullpen session and will face hitters next week. … 1B Brandon Belt (hyperextended right knee) ran the bases and took batting practice. … Catcher Nick Hundley is being evaluated for a concussion.
UP NEXT
Giants LHP Derek Holland (5-8, 3.88 ERA) makes his second start against Pittsburgh this season on Friday night. Holland pitched 6 1/3 scoreless innings to beat the Pirates on May 13. RHP Clay Holmes (1-1, 3.65) will be called up from Triple-A Indianapolis and will start for Pittsburgh. Hurdle indicated the move was made to give the rest of the rotation an extra day of rest.

Archer gets victory as Pirates beat Rockies 4-3
By MICHAEL KELLY, Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — Adam Frazier had three hits and made a run-saving play in the field, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Colorado Rockies 4-3 on Wednesday.
Chris Archer (4-5) was making his second start since being acquired from Tampa Bay before the July 31 trade deadline. He allowed two runs and five hits in five innings.
Frazier had two doubles and a single, but made what might have been his biggest contribution in the field. With runners on the corners and two outs in the eighth inning, pinch-hitter Chris Iannetta hit a sharp grounder to the hole at second. Frazier made a diving stop and threw out Iannetta to end the inning and preserve the one-run lead.
German Marquez (9-9) tied a career high with 10 strikeouts and David Dahl homered for the Rockies.
Archer retired the first eight batters before Marquez singled in the third. Colorado broke through in the fourth on Dahl’s two run homer, his fifth of the season, to cut the deficit to 3-2.
Pittsburgh led early on an RBI double by Gregory Polanco and a run-scoring single by Frazier in the first, and an RBI groundout in the third.
The Pirates added a run on Corey Dickerson’s sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to make it 4-2. Ryan McMahon’s RBI single made it close again.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: INF Josh Bell (left oblique strain) was activated from the 10-day DL and started at first base Wednesday. INF Jose Osuna was optioned to Triple-A Indianapolis.
Rockies: LHP Chris Rusin (plantar faciitis) pitched in a rehab assignment Tuesday night and was at Coors Field on Wednesday. Manager Bud Black said Rusin will be evaluated. “We’re encouraged by a lot of things we saw in his three outings,” Black said.
IMMACULATE INNING
Marquez had a rough start but settled down to register a rare feet. The righty struck out the side in the fourth on nine pitches. He is the third pitcher to do it this season. It is the first time it was done at Coors Field.
The only other Rockies pitcher to throw an immaculate inning was Rex Brothers in 2014.
Marquez followed his perfect inning with a leadoff walk in the fifth to Francisco Cervelli.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.49) takes the mound against the Giants in San Francisco on Thursday night.
Rockies: LHP Tyler Anderson (6-4, 4.05) will open a four-game home series against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Thursday.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Taillon, Pirates beat Bettis, Rockies 10-2
By MICHAEL KELLY, Associated Press
DENVER (AP) — It was Jameson Taillon for Pittsburgh and Chad Bettis for Colorado on Tuesday night at Coors Field.
An intersection with special significance.
Taillon beat Bettis in a matchup of pitchers who battled testicular cancer last year, and the Pirates hit three homers in a 10-2 victory over the Rockies.
“I’m not going to sit here and say we’re best friends and we talk on the phone all the time but we’ve both gone through something that is extremely similar and we both go through something similar starting pitching in the major leagues,” Taillon said. “There’s an understood bond there, something we’ll share for life.”
Taillon (9-8) allowed 10 hits in his second complete game of the season. The 26-year-old right-hander struck out three and walked one, helping the Pirates stop a three-game slide.
He became the first visiting pitcher to toss a nine-inning complete game in Denver since Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw shut out the Rockies on July 2, 2013.
“I’ve watched 1,300, 1,400 ballgames here, you don’t see a lot of complete games,” said Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle, who managed the Rockies over eight seasons. “He finished strong.”
Taillon threw 107 pitches, 70 for strikes. He needed just 15 to get the final three outs in his second career complete game.
“You always hear closing out games is tough, weird things happen in the ninth so I told myself it’s a 0-0 game, let’s close out this inning,” Taillon said.
Starling Marte hit a solo drive in the first and Jordy Mercer connected for a three-run shot against Bettis (5-2) with two out in the fourth. Josh Harrison capped Pittsburgh’s five-run fifth with a two-run homer off Jake McGee.
Bettis allowed nine runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in his first start after missing five weeks with a blister on his right middle finger.
“The problem was those two walks in the fourth and the home run by Mercer,” Bettis said. “It really came down to those three at-bats where I didn’t really execute the pitches like I wanted to.”
Taillon was diagnosed with cancer last year and missed six weeks after surgery last May.
Bettis was diagnosed in November 2016. He was cleared to report to spring training before tests revealed he had cancer in his lymph nodes and he underwent treatment. He made his season debut on Aug. 14 and started nine games last year.
Colorado made it 10-2 on Carlos Gonzalez’s two-run double with one out in the sixth.
REMEMBERING DON
Tuesday marked the one-year anniversary of the death of former Rockies manager Don Baylor. Baylor was Colorado’s first manager and held that position for six seasons. He gave Hurdle his first job on a major league staff.
“I’m forever grateful,” Hurdle said. “There’s times during the season or other times I’ll remember things he did or things he said that resonate, that have meaning. There’s still enough people within the game that I’ll see from time to time that we were connected. His spirit lives.”
ARRIVAL
Shortstop Adeiny Hechavarria joined the Pirates in time for Tuesday’s win. His plane landed at Denver International Airport at around 5 p.m. local time and made it to Coors Field 25 minutes before the first pitch.
He was acquired Monday in a trade with Tampa Bay.
CENTURY MARK
Rockies star Charlie Blackmon singled in the sixth inning for his 1,000th career hit. He received a short standing ovation from the crowd.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: INF Sean Rodriguez was placed on the 10-day DL – retroactive to Monday – with a strain to the left abdomen.
UP NEXT
Pittsburgh right-hander Chris Archer (3-5, 4.40 ERA) will make his second start since he was acquired in a trade with the Rays. He will face Rockies right-hander German Marquez (9-8, 4.70 ERA) in the series finale on Wednesday.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports

Frazier’s RBI single in 8th lifts Pirates past Cardinals 7-6
By JOHN PERROTTO, Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Archer didn’t make it past the fifth inning in his Pittsburgh Pirates’ debut.
However, he still got a standing ovation when he was removed from the game. And his team pulled out a win, too.
Adam Frazier’s RBI single in the eighth inning helped the Pirates beat the St. Louis Cardinals 7-6 on Friday night.
Pittsburgh overcame a rough outing by Archer, acquired from Tampa Bay earlier in the week, as gave up five runs and seven hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out six and walked four. Despite the uneven performance, the right-hander — winless in his last eight starts — received the ovation when he was removed during a three-run fifth inning.
“The fans were incredible,” Archer said. “I’ve never pitched in an atmosphere like this and I’ve been in the big leagues almost six years. It was unbelievable. I wish I could have done a little bit better, but considering how hectic everything’s been the last few days, for us to pull out a victory in my first game was pretty special.”
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle wasn’t ready to judge Archer after one start.
“He came out and competed like he’s always done,” Hurdle said. “I’m not going to overcook this. It was one start and we’ve won the one game he’s started.”
The Pirates broke a 6-6 tie in the eighth when Josh Harrison singled with one out off Jordan Hicks (3-3) and Jordy Mercer walked. After pinch-hitter Jose Osuna struck out, Frazier drove in Harrison by grounding a single into center field.
Kyle Crick (2-1) gave up Jedd Gyorko’s tying RBI grounder in the top of the eighth. Felipe Vazquez pitched a scoreless ninth for his 25th save, the most in a season by a Pirates’ left-hander. Mike Gonzalez had 24 in 2006.
Pittsburgh improved to a major league-best 17-5 since July 8.
Archer ran into trouble early as Matt Carpenter hit a home run to center field, his 27th, on the game’s third pitch. Carpenter extended his franchise record for homers leading off a game to 23, including eight this season.
Frazier and Starling Marte had three hits for Pittsburgh, which had a total of 12, and Gregory Polanco drove in three runs. Polanco hit a two-run triple and scored on Colin Moran’s sacrifice fly in the first inning then hit a sacrifice fly during a three-run third that pushed the lead to 6-2.
Rookies Tyler O’Neill and Yairo Munoz each had three hits of St. Louis’ 15 hits and Carpenter, Gyorko and Dexter Fowler added two each. The Cardinals left 16 runners on base while losing for the third time in four games.
“We had some big hits, we were able to scratch and claw back from 6-2,” Cardinals interim manager Mike Shildt said. “Had the bases loaded a couple times. Couldn’t quite cash in.”
St. Louis starter John Gant gave up six runs in four innings.
The Cardinals pulled to 6-5 in the fifth when Gyorko and Fowler hit RBI singles and pinch-hitter Jose Martinez drove in a run with a grounder.
Fowler left the game in the eighth inning due to a left foot contusion. Cardinals president of baseball operations John Mozeliak said the right fielder fouled a ball off his foot earlier in the game and will likely be placed on the disabled list Saturday.
Fowler had struggled all season, hitting just .180 with eight home runs in 90 games in the second year of an $82.5-million, five-year contract.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Cardinals: LF Marcell Ozuna (left big toe discomfort) returned to the lineup after leaving Thursday’s win over Colorado and was 1 for 5 with a double. … 2B Kolten Wong (left knee inflammation) is expected to be activated from the disabled list Saturday. … RHP Adam Wainwright (right elbow inflammation) will join the team Monday in Miami and throw a bullpen session. If that goes well, he will start a rehab assignment with Class A West Palm. RHP Luke Gregerson (right shoulder impingement) will be examined by Dr. James Andrews sometime next week in Gulf Breeze, Florida.
Pirates: Triple-A Indianapolis INF Jung Ho Kang, who finished third in the NL Rookie of the Year voting in 2015, underwent surgery to debride his left wrist. … RHP AJ Schugel (right shoulder discomfort) began a rehab assignment with Class A Bradenton and threw 19 pitches. … RHP Nick Burdi (right elbow surgery) had his rehab assignment stopped at Double-A Altoona because of a strained left quadriceps muscle.
ROSTER MOVES
Pirates: RHP Keone Kela was added to the roster and RHP Doyvdas Neverauskas was recalled from Indianapolis while LHP Steven Brault and RHP Nick Kingham were optioned to the Triple-A club. Kela who pitched one scoreless inning, was acquired Tuesday in a trade with the Texas Rangers. Kingham lost his rotation spot with the addition of Archer.
Cardinals: RHP Greg Holland was released after clearing waivers and LHP Tyler Lyons accepted an outright assignment to Memphis. Holland, who tied for the NL lead in saves last season with 41 for Colorado, had a 7.92 ERA in 32 games after being signed to a $14-million, one-year contract.
UP NEXT
Cardinals: Rookie LHP Austin Gomber (1-0, 3.22 ERA) will make his second career start Saturday night. He is moving from the bullpen to replace RHP Carlos Martinez (strained right shoulder).
Pirates: RHP Ivan Nova (6-6, 4.33) is 4-1 with a 3.59 ERA in nine starts since being activated from the disabled list. He was out from May 25-June 9 with a sprained right ring finger.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Freese 5 RBIs, single in 9th lifts Pirates over Mets 5-4〉
By WES CROSBY, Associated Press
PITTSBURGH (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates needed someone to lean on with three of their better hitters out of the lineup Friday. On cue, David Freese came through in a big way.
Freese drove in five runs, including an RBI single in the ninth inning that lifted the Pirates over the New York Mets 5-4. He homered in going 3 for 3 with two walks, helping the Pirates win for the 12th time in 14 games.
“It’s wild,” Freese said. “We just have to step up. These are the dog days, I guess, and it’s tough out there. Bodies are dragging a little bit. But we are in the hunt, that’s what’s cool. We just have to keep going.”
The Mets had won three in a row. They beat the Pirates 12-6 Thursday night behind Asdrubal Cabrera’s homer and two doubles – Cabrera was traded to Philadelphia on Friday.
Josh Harrison led off the Pittsburgh ninth with an infield single against rookie reliever Tim Peterson (2-2). A single by Gregory Polanco put runners at the corner and Elias Diaz was intentionally walked to load the bases. Freese hit a drive over center fielder Brandon Nimmo for the win.
Pittsburgh was without outfielders Starling Marte and Corey Dickerson, who were out with a left hand contusion and left hamstring discomfort, respectively. First baseman Josh Bell played two innings before leaving with left side discomfort.
“We didn’t have a lot of depth, truthfully,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “That’s one thing these guys have done all year long, is that they show up. Whoever is available plays and they depend upon one another.”
Pirates closer Felipe Vazquez (4-2) got the win after striking out two in a scoreless ninth.
After Freese gave the Pirates a 4-3 lead with a two-out, two-run single up the middle with the bases loaded in the fifth, the Mets loaded the bases with no outs in the sixth.
Reliever Edgar Santana struck out Kevin Plawecki and had a chance to get out of the inning when Jose Reyes sharply lined out to left fielder Jordan Luplow. Michael Conforto paused after charging from third, but Luplow’s throw sailed to the backstop, allowing Conforto to continue and beat the tag at home, tying it at 4.
Mets reliever Seth Lugo gave up the go-ahead single to Freese in the fifth, after replacing starter Jason Vargas. In his first start since June 19, Vargas allowed three runs on three hits with three strikeouts and three walks in 4 1/3 innings.
“I thought (Vargas) did a good job,” Mets manager Mickey Callaway said. “To push him any further than we did, I thought would be tough. He started getting a little tired there at the end.”
Without getting the decision, Vargas was still pleased with his return.
“It’s kind of hard to say what you anticipate, but I felt really solid out there,” Vargas said. “I felt like I was able to make some pitches. I made that one mistake to Freese that he really went out there and hammered, but I felt like I did a good job.”
That one mistake led to Freese’s home run, which cut the Mets’ 3-0 lead to 3-2 in the second. Conforto gave New York that lead with a three-run homer in the first.
Pirates starter Ivan Nova gave up three earned runs in five innings.
ROSTER MOVES
Mets: Cabrera was traded to the Philadelphia Phillies for RHP Franklyn Kilome. New York signed OF Austin Jackson and designated OF Matt den Dekker for assignment.
Pirates: RHP Alex McRae was recalled from Triple-A Indianapolis. RHP Michael Feliz was optioned to Indianapolis.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Hurdle did not provide an update on Bell, Marte or Dickerson. He did not say whether Marte or Dickerson could have pinch-hit if the game went to extra innings.
UP NEXT
Mets: RHP Jacob deGrom (5-5, 1.71 ERA) will look to win for the third time in four starts when he takes the mound against Pittsburgh on Saturday. He has allowed three earned runs combined during his past three starts, and has gone eight innings in each.
Pirates: RHP Trevor Williams (8-7, 4.11) hopes to build off of his last two starts when he faces the Mets on Saturday. After allowing five runs in five innings of a 17-5 loss to the Phillies on July 6, Williams hasn’t allowed a run in his two starts since, including when he shut out the Cleveland Indians in six innings of a rain-shortened, 7-0 win on Monday.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Indians top Pirates 4-0, end Pittsburgh’s 11-game win streak
By BRIAN DULIK, Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Trevor Bauer, Adam Cimber and Brad Hand combined for an emphatic end to the Pittsburgh Pirates’ 11-game winning streak.
Bauer struck out 10 over seven innings and the newly acquired relievers completed a three-hitter as the Cleveland Indians beat the Pirates 4-0 on Wednesday.
Pittsburgh was seeking its first 12-game winning streak since 1965 but only advanced one runner to third base. The Pirates had scored six or more runs in seven straight games before losing for the first time since July 10 against Washington.
“When you face a team that’s hot like that, I enjoy meeting the challenge head-on,” said Bauer, who improved to 3-0 with an MLB-low 0.33 ERA in four interleague starts this season.
“I challenged them, forced them to hit my stuff,” he said. “I wanted to see who was tougher.”
Bauer (9-6) allowed two hits and two walks in his ninth double-digit strikeout game this year.
Cimber, acquired from San Diego along with Hand on July 19, got the first two outs in the eighth. Hand retired the next four batters, striking out three, for his first save with Cleveland. He had 24 saves with the Padres.
“Those guys are taking my innings away from me, jerks,” Bauer said, chuckling. “They’re good, and that’s what we got them to do, you know? Come in and shut the game down.”
Edwin Encarnacion had a two-run single in the third off Jameson Taillon (7-8), and Yonder Alonso had a two-run homer in the eighth against Felipe Vazquez.
Jose Ramirez scored twice and stole two bases for the Indians, who lead the AL Central by eight games over Minnesota. Francisco Lindor went had two hits.
“Trevor Bauer was as good as advertised,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “The spin pitches, sometimes they looked like a whiffle-ball coming in there, and he has enough run to the arm-side fastball at times that it keeps you honest.”
Pittsburgh, which outscored Cleveland 16-4 in winning the first two games of the series, was blanked for the ninth time. Jordy Mercer, Jacob Stallings and Adam Frazier had hits.
Pirates center fielder Starling Marte left in the first inning after being struck on the left hand by a Bauer pitch. Left fielder Corey Dickerson did not play because of a strained left hamstring that occurred Tuesday.
CLOSE CALL
Marte’s career-high hitting streak remains intact at 17 games because he did not record an official at-bat or sacrifice fly before leaving. Initial medical tests revealed a bruise, but no fracture.
“The news we received was the best news we could have gotten as far as the severity,” Hurdle said. “I don’t think it’s too bad.”
Marte has an NL-high 20 RBIs in July and is batting .292 with 16 homers and 54 RBIs on the season.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: RHP Chad Kuhl (right forearm strain) began performing gripping exercises Tuesday and did not experience any problems. The 25-year-old starter was placed on the disabled list on June 29.
Indians: LHP Andrew Miller (right knee inflammation) will pitch every other day during his rehab assignment with Double-A Akron. He allowed four runs in 1/3 of an inning in his first outing Tuesday.
UP NEXT
Pirates RHP Nick Kingham (5-4, 4.11 ERA) takes on Mets LHP Steven Matz (4-8, 3.65 ERA) in the opener of a nine-game homestand Thursday at PNC Park.
Indians RHP Carlos Carrasco (12-5, 4.03 ERA) faces Tigers RHP Mike Fiers (7-6, 3.49 ERA) to begin a six-game trip Friday at Comerica Park.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball

Marte, Polanco, Bell HR; Bucs beat Indians for 11th straight
By STEVE HERRICK, Associated Press
CLEVELAND (AP) — Pittsburgh Pirates manager Clint Hurdle has a simple philosophy when it comes to hot streaks.
“I have a saying that I use all the time,” he said. “I’m not superstitious but just in case, there’s some things I’ll continue to do.”
Whether it’s superstition — or just solid baseball — whatever the Pirates are doing is working.
Starling Marte, Gregory Polanco and Josh Bell each hit a two-run homer, and Pittsburgh beat the Cleveland Indians 9-4 on Tuesday night for their 11th straight win.
Hurdle, in his 16th season as a big league manager, knows how quickly fortunes can change in baseball but realizes his team is doing something special.
“I can understand not making too much of it,” he said. “(But) I’ve been in the game 44 years and I won’t tell you the amount of times I’ve been on a team that has won 11 games in a row. It hasn’t been 44.”
The Pirates beat the Indians for the second straight night. Marte homered in the first inning, drove in three runs and extended his career-high hitting streak to 17 games.
Polanco homered and Corey Dickerson tripled in two runs when Pittsburgh scored five times in the second. Bell hit a home run in the fifth. The Pirates have homered in a season-high nine straight games, hitting 22 home runs in that span.
Pittsburgh has won 11 in a row for the first time since Sept. 12-22, 1996. The Pirates have won 13 of 14 and are 17-8 since June 24. Pittsburgh has outscored its opponents 43-9 in the last five games.
Musgrove (4-4) allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings for his first win since June 29.
“It’s awesome,” he said of the winning streak. “It’s not very often you get to be a part of something like this.”
Shane Bieber (5-2), called up from Triple-A Columbus to make the start, allowed seven runs in 1 2/3 innings.
Designated hitter Edwin Encarnacion returned after missing two games with a bruised right hand and hit a leadoff homer in the fourth. Brandon Guyer added a solo homer in the eighth.
Pittsburgh rolled to a 7-0, rain-shortened win over reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Corey Kluber on Monday and the offense jumped ahead early again.
“Right now, we’re facing a team that if you make a mistake, they capitalize on everything and for two games now, that’s what’s happened,” Indians manager Terry Francona said.
Dickerson doubled to start the game and Marte drove a 2-1 pitch into the left-field bleachers for his 16th homer.
Pittsburgh’s second-inning runs came with two outs. Dickerson’s drive with runners on first and second sent center fielder Tyler Naquin to the wall. Naquin attempted to make a leaping catch, but the ball glanced off the side of his glove and rolled along the track.
Marte followed with an infield hit, and Polanco got his 18th home run to right. Bell hit his sixth homer to right off Neil Ramirez.
The Pirates are 12-2 in interleague play and have won eight in a row against AL teams.
Cleveland snapped a scoreless streak of 15 innings in the first on Jose Ramirez’s RBI groundout.
BIG NUMBERS
Dickerson, Marte and Polanco have fueled the Pirates’ hot streak. The three have combined to hit .382 (26 of 68) with nine homers 24 RBIs over the last five games.
“We’re challenging ourselves,” Dickerson said. “When somebody does something well the other ones are wanting to do something awesome also. We’re kind of holding each other accountable the way we work and those guys are working hard, so it’s paying off.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Dickerson was removed in the bottom of the fourth with left hamstring discomfort after going 2 for 3. He said after the game that he didn’t think the injury was serious.
Indians: LHP Andrew Miller (right knee inflammation) allowed four runs in one-third of an inning on a rehab assignment for Double-A Akron on Tuesday. He retired one of the five batters he faced and threw 24 pitches.
UP NEXT
James Taillon (7-7, 3.80 ERA) faces Indians All-Star Trevor Bauer (8-6, 2.44) in the series finale Wednesday. Taillon has never faced Cleveland while Bauer beat the Pirates in his only appearance against them in 2015.
___
More AP baseball: https://apnews.com/tag/MLBbaseball