Posey homer helps Giants avoid sweep by Pirates
Buster Posey's three-run home run in the fifth inning Sunday lifted the visiting San Francisco Giants to a 3-2 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates, ending a four-game losing streak.
Josh Bell hit a two-run homer for Pittsburgh, which was vying for its first three-game series sweep, while seeing its five-game winning streak halted.
San Francisco starter Dereck Rodriguez (3-2) gave up two runs and three hits in 5 2/3 innings, with one walk and four strikeouts. He also singled and scored a run.
Reliever Will Smith made it interesting in the ninth before picking up his fifth save. He issued a one-out walk to Francisco Cervelli. After Jung Ho Kang's fielder's choice, Kang was thrown out at home to end the game by Steven Duggar as he tried to score on Bryan Reynolds' double to right.
The Pirates' Chris Archer (1-1), returning after a five-game suspension and eight days following a wayward pitch against the Cincinnati Reds, delivered five innings, allowing three runs and six hits, with two walks and two strikeouts.
Pittsburgh, plagued by injuries, continued to be creative with the lineup and gave Colin Moran, normally a third baseman, his first ever start at second base ay any level.
Rodriguez retired Pittsburgh in order with three strikeouts through the first three innings.
In the fourth, Pirates rookie Tucker Cole - who homered Friday in his major league debut -- led off with a double to center. Two outs later, on a 2-2 pitch, Bell hit his fourth homer for a 2-0 lead.
San Francisco came right back in the fifth. Rodriguez led off with a single to left. Steven Duggar's bunt went for an infield hit, moving Rodriguez to second. After Gerardo Parra lined out on a bunt attempt, Posey made it 3-2 with a home run to right.
It was not only Posey's first home run of the season, breaking his longest drought at 236 at-bats, but also the first of his career against Pittsburgh.
--Field Level Media
