Snider delivers clutch pinch hit in eighth as Pirates beat Rockies 4-2

Win: Tony Watson (6-1)

Loss: Matt Belisle (2-5)

Save Mark Melancon (17)

The Pirates (50-46) earned their 50th win of the season with a 4-2 win over the Colorado Rockies (40-56) on Friday night at PNC Park. Rockies starter Jorge De La Rosa allowed just four hits and one run over six innings, but exited after the sixth inning, and the Pirates got to the Rockies bullpen in the seventh and eighth innings to come from behind for the win.

Pittsburgh loaded the bases in the seventh and trailing 2-1 Starling Marte was hit in the head with a 93 mph fastball. Marte stayed in the game and collected his 2nd RBI of the game with the hit batter.

The Pirates took the lead in the eighth when Travis Snider delivered a pinch hit RBI double to put the Pirates ahead 3-2. Josh Harrison added a sacrifice fly and Mark Melancon closed out the ninth for his 17th save of the season.

Snider’s pinch hit double to right field scoring Neil Walker, came with a 3-2 count and after falling behind 0-2 in the count. It was Snider’s NL leading (tied for first) 11th pinch hit of the season.

“He has gotten to a good place this year,” manager Clint Hurdle said of Snider becoming a factor as a pinch hitter.

The Pirates were very effective late in the game of gutting out tough at-bats. Gregory Polanco fell behind 0-2 to Rex Brothers, only to show plate discipline and delivered a single with a full count to left field to load the bases with the Pirates down 2-1.

• Francisco Liriano has come out of the All-Star break with what you can call a promising start. After a shaky first inning, where he threw 27 pitches, Liriano finished the night allowing three hits and one run in five innings pitched. Liriano struck out eight and walked three. Liriano’s stuff was filthy at times and a positive for him was not crumbling after the first inning, though, the disappointment is clearly not pitching past the 5th inning where his pitch count was at 95. Liriano retired 10 of the last 11 batters. “First inning, basically was his own doing,” Hurdle said of Liriano. “Second inning we played five outs. I felt good for him, for us. Last three innings, he did very professional work.”
• Starling Marte went 1-2 with a triple, 2 RBI.
• Pedro Alvarez had his 21st throwing error of the season with an errant throw to first base in the sixth inning. Alvarez was replaced late in the game by Josh Harrison.
• Carlos Gonzalez was 0-5 with five strikeouts