Denver, CO – Dexter Fowler ripped a tie-breaking, two-run single as part of a five-run sixth inning that lifted the Colorado Rockies to a 6-4 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates Saturday in the middle test of a three-game set at Coors Field.
Nolan Arenado and Charlie Blackmon each added a run-scoring double in the rally, making a winner out of reliever Wilton Lopez (2-4), who recorded the final out in the sixth after starter Juan Nicasio was lifted. Nicasio allowed three runs on six hits over 5 2/3 frames.
Josh Outman and Matt Belisle each spun a scoreless inning in relief before Rex Brothers secured his ninth save of the season, despite giving up a run in the ninth, for the Rockies, who snapped a five-game slide with a 10-1 triumph in Friday's series opener.
A.J. Burnett (5-8) was charged for six runs -- five earned -- on eight hits while striking out eight over 5 2/3 innings to absorb the loss.
Russell Martin collected three hits, an RBI and a run scored, while Garrett Jones and Jose Tabata added two hits and an RBI apiece for the Pirates, who had won five straight before dropping the first two games of this series.
Jones scorched a run-scoring triple in the sixth and scored when Tabata followed with an infield single to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 cushion, but the Rockies responded with five runs -- all with two outs -- in the home half.
Michael Cuddyer smacked a leadoff single and moved to second on Wilin Rosario's fly out before scoring on Arenado's two-out double to right-center to make it 3-2.
After Jonathan Herrera walked on four pitches, Blackmon drove a pinch-hit double to right-center field, scoring Arenado to tie the game at 3-3.
Fowler then ripped a line-drive single just over the glove of Neil Walker at second, allowing Herrera and Blackmon to score for a 5-3 lead.
Fowler's hit chased Burnett from the contest, as Tony Watson took over on the mound and served up a single to left to Corey Dickerson. Starling Marte fielded the ball and fired a strike to third, but as Pedro Alvarez tried to apply the tag, Fowler slid in and knocked the ball out of Alvarez's glove.
With the ball rolling into foul territory, Fowler alertly raced home for a 6-3 lead.
"We got some clutch hits," Colorado manager Walt Weiss said. "Put together a lot of great at-bats tonight against a real good pitcher."
Pittsburgh rallied in the ninth against Brothers, as Gaby Sanchez worked a leadoff walk and moved to third two batters later on Alex Presley's single to center.
Walker followed with a base hit to left to score Sanchez and bring Pittsburgh within two, but Brothers bounced back with consecutive strikeouts to end the Pirates' hopes of a comeback.
"We fight back, scratch back, and we get the go-ahead run to the plate in the ninth and Brothers was able to close the door," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
Early on, Colorado grabbed a 1-0 lead in the second on Herrera's two-out, RBI single, but the Pirates got the run back in the fourth on Martin's run-scoring double.
Game Notes
Marte left the game in the seventh inning after taking a pitch off his left hand ... Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle was ejected in the seventh inning for arguing a call at second base ... Pittsburgh finished 2-for-10 with runners in scoring position and left nine on base ... Colorado went just 4-for-15 with RISP ... The start of the game was delayed 1 hour, 48 minutes because of rain.
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