Pirates erupt for eight runs over final two innings in 9-4 win over Diamondbacks

Win: Tony Watson (8-1)

Loss: Bo Schultz (0-1)

The Pittsburgh Pirates (58-51) avoided losing three straight with a thrilling come from behind win over the Arizona Diamondbacks (48-62), 9-4, on Friday night.

Pittsburgh scored the games final nine runs and erupted over the the final two innings, scoring eight runs in the eighth and ninth inning.

It was the 27th comeback win for the Pirates

Josh Harrison tripled, doubled and scored twice in the win for the Pirates and trailing 4-1, Harrison set the tone in the eighth with a one out triple that was followed by Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez driving in runs to tie the game at 4-4 going into the ninth.

With the Pirates down 4-2, Alvarez had a two-run pinch hit double taking an inside fastball to right center.

The Pirates would add five runs in the ninth, as Jordy Mercer had an RBI double, Michael Martinez and Russell Martin each had RBI singles and Travis Snider a two-run single.

“It’s backyard baseball,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “It’s nothing spectacular. We just play.”

Tony Watson (8-1) pitched a scoreless eighth to get the win.

Edison Volquez (8-7, 3.91 ERA) allowed 7 hits and 4 runs in 5.2 IP, striking out 5 and walking 2. Volquez threw just 11 first pitch strikes, facing 26 batters. Ender Inciarte hit a three-run homer off Volquez in the fifth inning to break a scoreless tie in the game.

Volquez has failed to pitch through the sixth inning in all three starts since the All-Star break and is 0-1 with a 5.74 ERA since the break.

Gerrit Cole, out since July 5 with shoulder fatigue, was scratched from his scheduled rehab start Saturday with Triple-A Indianapolis and will have a bullpen session instead, according to GM Neal Huntington. Outfielder Starling Marte, on the concussion list since July 23, will make a rehab start Saturday for Triple-A Indianapolis. He’s expected to play three to four games in Indy.