Pittsburgh, PA (SportsNetwork.com) - Edinson Volquez tossed seven solid innings and Andrew McCutchen added a two-run homer, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 3-2 decision over Philadelphia Phillies in the middle test of a three-game series.
Volquez (7-6) walked four but fanned five while allowing one run on four hits in his successful 106-pitch outing, which he aided by knocking in a run for the Pirates, winners of two in a row and five of their last six.
Mark Melancon gave up a home run to Marlon Byrd in the ninth, but closed out the game to register his 16th save.
Cody Asche also went deep for the Phillies, while David Buchanan (4-5) surrendered six hits and three runs over six full frames in defeat.
Philadelphia fell to 37-50, tying the 2012 club for the worst record at this point in the season since the 1997 Phils were 25-62.
"When you're working every day, you know it's there, regardless if it's there or not," Byrd said of the team's desire and professionalism. "It's working hard every single day, coming in here, preparing for a game, no matter who's on the mound, who's in the bullpen, and preparing for whatever team you're playing and having an approach."
Asche put the Phils on the board with his fourth-inning solo homer, which dropped from a fan's hands at the edge of the right-field bleachers and cut Pittsburgh's lead to 3-1. Replay determined the third baseman's sixth of the season was legitimate.
Domonic Brown then singled, but was erased on a Cameron Rupp double-play grounder and Buchanan fanned to end the frame.
Philadelphia did not seriously threaten again until Byrd greeted Melancon with his 17th homer of the season. However, the Pirates closer removed any doubt by retiring the next three batters to end the contest.
Gregory Polanco began the home first with a single and McCutchen cleared the wall in center two batters later to quickly put Pittsburgh ahead.
"It was a dead fastball down the middle," McCutchen said. "I do a pretty good job of hitting those, and all around the league, everyone does a pretty good job of hitting fastballs down the middle. I was able to get that first pitch, and I was ready to hit it."
Pedro Alvarez started the bottom of the second with a single, Jordy Mercer followed with a double and Chris Stewart was plunked to load the bases, with a Volquez groundout scoring Alvarez as Pittsburgh went up 3-0.
Game Notes
Philadelphia fell to 16-27 against the Pirates in Pittsburgh since PNC Park opened in 2001 and dropped to 1-5 over their last six series in the venue located by the Allegheny River ... Prior to the contest, the Pirates claimed infielder Dean Anna off waivers from the New York Yankees and optioned him to Triple-A Indianapolis.
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