SAN FRANCISCO (KDKA/AP) — The Pirates’ offense came roaring back to life in a 9-2 win over the San Francisco Giants.

The win allowed the Bucs (56-60) to pick up a road series win after a 10-game slide to start off August.

After both teams were tied at 1-1 after the first inning, Andrew McCutchen’s two-run homer at the top of the third ignited a rally and the Bucs never looked back.
Jeff Karstens (9-6, 3.04 ERA) allowed two runs and struck out nine over six innings.

Brandon Wood drove in a run in the seventh and Matt Diaz hit two run-scoring singles. Pittsburgh’s Nos. 1-5 hitters went a combined 7 for 17 with six RBIs, eight runs scored, seven walks and a hit batter. Jones is batting .389 (14 for 36) with five doubles, three homers and seven RBIs this month.

Pablo Sandoval homered for the Giants, who began the day with a half-game lead over Arizona in the NL West.

Sanchez (4-7) walked McCutchen on four pitches and threw five straight balls to start the game. Sandoval came in from third and catcher Eli Whiteside hustled to the mound to chat with the left-hander, who was roughed up again in his second start since coming off the disabled list with biceps tendinitis. Sanchez was done after 4 1-3 innings and hasn’t won since June 2 at St. Louis.

Pittsburgh is off Thursday before opening a weekend series at NL Central-leading Milwaukee. The Brewers have won all five previous meetings.