Pirates 3 – Royals 2

Win: A.J. Burnett (6-2)
Loss: Bruce Chen (5-6)
Save: Jason Grilli (1)
POST-GAME BUZZ
The Pirates (32-27) winning ways continued Sunday afternoon, defeating the Kansas City Royals 3-2 at PNC Park for a three game sweep over the Royals
With the win, Pittsburgh’s winning streak has reached four games and the Pirates are a Major League best 12-3 in their last 15 games, moving 5 games above .500 and on the verge of first place in the NL Central. The Pirates have an off-day on Monday, then start a six game road trip that begins in Baltimore.
Today was the Pirates first interleague sweep since a three game sweep against the Cleveland Indians (June 15-17, 2001).

— A.J. Burnett (6-2) threw a gem, collecting his 6th victory of the season and 5th straight win. Burnett continues to give the Pirates a great return on their off-season acquisition.
Burnett went seven plus, allowing 5 hits, and 2 earned runs in 7 1/3 innings, striking out 6 and walking 2 in the victory.
“He was really efficient, ” manager Clint Hurdle said. “Very solid performance acrossed the board, ” Hurdle said of Burnett who threw 71 strikes on 107 pitches. “He’s got a lot of confidence and he’s in a good place from a comfort zone, ” Hurdle said.
Hurdle said from tracking Burnett in 2010 as hitting coach in Texas, he’s seen a different player two years later. “He’s definitely more consistent, ” Hurdle said from the standpoint of Burnett throwing less walks. Burnett has now allowed 2 earned runs or less in 8 of 10 starts this season.
— Andrew McCutchen (.325 – 11 HR – 36 RBI) hit a 2-run homer and drove in all three runs in the victory, leading the Pirates offensively with a big afternoon. McCutchen hit an RBI double in the first inning and hit a two-run homer in the third. Overall, McCutchen was 2-3 with HR, 3 RBI’s, double, run scored and a walk.

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