San Francisco 6 – Pittsburgh 4
The Pittsburgh Pirates (22-32) blew a 4-0 lead and lost to the San Francisco Giants (29-24) 6-4 Friday night at PNC Park. The game was delayed 2 hours and 55 minutes.
Pittsburgh scored four runs in the second inning and starter Zach Duke (3-6) was cruising until the Giants scored two runs in the 5th inning to get back into the game and Duke was hit hard in the 6th.
Juan Uribe and Aubrey Huff each hit two run homers in the 6th as the Giants erased a four run deficit to take a 6-4 lead.
The Giants pitched seven scoreless innings to end the game, shutting down the Pirates offensively. Giants closer Brian Wilson worked the ninth, earning his 100th career save.
Giants starter Jonathan Sanchez (4-4) gave up four unearned runs in the second inning and improved to 2-0 against the Pirates this season.
On the year, Sanchez has not given up an earned run in 14 1/3 innings against Pittsburgh.
The struggles for Zach Duke continued who has now lost 6 of his last 7 decisions. Duke gave up 10 hits and 6 earned runs in 6 innings pitched..
Duke expressed frustration after the game and has given up 22 hits and 13 runs in his last two starts. It has now been 15 games since a Pirates starter has won a game.
The Rundown
  • Pirates second baseman Neil Walker had another strong game. Walker went 2-for-4 with an RBI and a run scored.  He is now batting .333 on the season. Walker who was named the Pirates starting second baseman on Tuesday also made a number of quality plays in the field.
  • Walker made a highlight reel diving catch in shallow right field in the 7th and also played a part in turning three double plays with Ronny Cedeno in the game.  
  • Walker had one bad at-bat in the 7th. The Pirates looking to mount a comeback had runners at second and third (2 outs) and Walker got ahead in the count 2-0. Walker though struck out swinging to end the inning.
  • The Pirates 3-6 hitters ( Milledge, Jones, Crosby, Doumit) went a combined 0-for-14 in the game.
  • Freddy Sanchez returned to Pittsburgh and went 3-for-4 with a run scored and added a double. Sanchez is batting .358 on the year after missing the first 38 games of the year.  
  • Buster Posey the Giants first round pick in 2008 (5th overall) went 2-for-4 with 2 runs scored and is batting .478 on the season.
Notes
*Manager John Russell announced prior to the game that Jeff Karstens will start Tuesday night against Stephen Strasburg of the Washington Nationals.
Russell also announced that newly acquired pitcher Dana Eveland will start Monday afternoon against the Chicago Cubs. Eveland joined the Pirates on Friday. Eveland threw an extended pitching session in Bradenton and the Pirates feel he is ready to join the rotation.
*Pittsburgh Pirates top prospect Pedro Alvarez went 2-for-3 with a double, walk for Triple-A Indianapolis Friday night. Alvarez is batting .267 on the season with 11 home runs and 46 RBI’s. Alvarez has hit the ball well of late, batting .351 in his last 10 games.
*Former Pirate Jose Bautista hit home run No. 17 and No. 18 Friday night, leading the Toronto Blue Jays to a 6-1 win over the New York Yankees.

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