PITTSBURGH – Ronny Cedeno's single in the bottom of the ninth scored Andrew McCutchen and the Pittsburgh Pirates snapped a four-game losing streak with a 4-3 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Friday night.
Cedeno's soft line drive to right-center off Esmerling Vasquez (1-6) came after two one-out walks to McCutchen and Ryan Doumit. McCutchen was pinch-hitting after being scratched from the lineup about 30 minutes before game time due to a stomach ailment.
Pittsburgh had lost seven of eight and avoided their ninth five-game losing streak of the season.
Ian Kennedy was impressive for a fourth consecutive start and Geraldo Parra had two RBI doubles for the Diamondbacks, who have lost 10 of 13.
Kennedy was in line for the win when he exited after allowing two runs (one earned) in six innings, but Doumit tied it with a solo homer, his 13th, off Blaine Boyer with one out in the seventh.
Neil Walker also homered for the Pirates, who are a majors-worst 49-98 but have won seven of their past 11 at home. Walker, Cedeno and Jose Tabata each went 2 for 4 with an RBI.
Evan Meek (5-4) retired the final two batters of the top of the ninth after entering the inning during a two-on, one-out jam.
Kennedy entered the game with a career-high 17-inning scoreless streak, also a team high this season. The third Pittsburgh batter of the game, Walker, ended that with a solo homer to right, his 11th.
He would allow only four more hits, including an RBI double by Tabata in the fifth. The Pirates' run was unearned because a passed ball by Miguel Montero allowed Cedeno to advance to second before being driven in.
Parra drove in Rusty Ryal in the third and Montero in the seventh. He scored on Stephen Drew's single in the third.
Pirates left-hander Brian Burres made his third consecutive strong start since joining the rotation after an injury to Jeff Karstens. He allowed three runs — two earned — and seven hits and no walks in seven innings.
Burres has allowed four earned runs in 20 innings over his past three starts and has allowed only six earned runs in four starts at PNC Park this season.
Notes: Diamondbacks ace RHP Brandon Webb will have another bullpen session Saturday as he attempts to rehabilitate from August shoulder surgery. ... Kennedy has a 1.25 ERA in seven career games (six starts) in September. ... Walker entered the game hitless in his past 15 at-bats, and fellow rookie Tabata was 0 for 13.
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