Sports Network | August 8, 2010
Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) – Pedro Alvarez hit a three-run homer with two down in the bottom of the 10th inning as Pittsburgh clipped Colorado, 8-7, in the third of four between the teams at PNC Park.
The game-clinching homer came after the Rockies tied the score in the ninth on Ian Stewart’s three-run homer then forged ahead in the top of the 10th on Todd Helton’s long two-run blast.
It made a winner of Sean Gallagher (2-0), who allowed the go-ahead Helton shot.
Chris Snyder hit a three-run homer and Garrett Jones added a solo blast for the Pirates, who have won three of five.
“We did some good things and had a couple mistakes that we overcame,” said Pirates manager John Russell.
Miguel Olivo and Troy Tulowitzki also knocked in runs for the Rockies, who have dropped three of five.
Huston Street (2-3) took the loss and the blown save, as he was charged with all three runs in the tenth.
Joel Hanrahan looked to lock up the game with a 5-2 lead in the ninth, but allowed base hits to Tulowitzki and Brad Hawpe before Stewart crushed an offering deep into the seats in right-center for a 5-5 deadlock.
Gallagher took the hill in the 10th and gave up an infield hit to Dexter Fowler before Helton nearly hit the top of the bleachers in right for a 7-5 Rockies edge.
Andrew McCutchen began the home half with a long hit to right-center that was originally called a home run. A review determined that a fan touched the ball with his glove over the fence, giving him a double. After a fly out and strikeout, Jones walked before Alvarez ended the contest with a deep drive to right.
Tulowitzki’s sacrifice fly in the fourth broke a scoreless tie, then the Bucs went ahead in the sixth on Snyder’s three-run shot.
Olivo’s groundout got the Rox within a run in the seventh, but a Jones seventh-inning solo homer and Joe Beimel’s wild pitch in the eighth score Delwyn Young for a 5-2 game.
Pittsburgh has won four of six over Colorado this season…Pirates starter Ross Ohlendorf allowed four hits and two runs — one earned — over six-plus innings, while Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa yielded five hits and three runs with five strikeouts and four walks in 5 1/3 frames…Prior to the game, the Pirates activated catcher Ryan Doumit from the 15-day disabled list and optioned catcher Erik Kratz to Triple-A Indianapolis.