For more information about baseball players who served our country in wartime go to www.baseballinwartime.com

He says hitting is contagious, but notes that a lack of hitting is contagious too.

Sean reaches back into his memory bank to tell us how some of his old teams broke out of hitting slumps, and what he sees going wrong with the Pirates offense.

He also lets us know about his new Miracle League field opening this weekend.

Indianapolis Indians broadcaster Howard Kellman joins Vinnie & Cook on Sportsradio 93-7 The Fan for the latest from the farm club.

Kellman fills us in on how Alex Presley, Starling Marte and Matt Hague have been faring lately, and tells us which one of those three may be most likely to get the call to the big club next.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

He also admits that he has heard the “Stud Brad Lincoln” songs and he and his mom are both huge fans.

Listen to the full interview here:

The pitching has been great but the offense has been awful.

Walk tries to provide some answers for what can be done to fix the issues.

Walk is a featured weekly guest on “Walk On Wednesday” on The Fan Morning Show every Wednesday morning at 8:20 a.m.

Listen to the full interview here:

McDonald pitched seven innings, allowing just one run on four hits while striking out eight batters. However, New York starter R.A. Dickey was just as commanding, allowing one run in seven innings on five hits and striking out 11.

Dickey, a knuckle ball pitcher, provided problems for Pittsburgh’s lineup, which couldn’t seem to connect with Dickey’s unpredictable pitch placement.

“His numbers coming in are real,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Dickey’s 5-1 record and 3.75 ERA. “They were real last year. He competes, and he makes pitches.”

That best for Pittsburgh was right fielder Josh Harrison, who drove his hitting streak to eight games and made solid contact all night. Batting in the two-hole, he went 2 for 4 with a run scored.

“(The) only previous experience I had was facing (knuckle ball pitchers) two times last year, two games,” Harrison said. “I’ve hit pretty well off ‘em, but I don’t really think about it.”

Harrison’s run came in the bottom of the sixth, tying the game, 1-1. After he tripled to the north side notch, Andrew McCutchen hit a sacrifice fly to right field.

The Mets took the lead for good in the eighth inning. With Pirates reliever Juan Cruz on the mound, Lucas Duda singled to right field with runners on first and second, scoring one.

Chris Resop relieved Cruz, and Daniel Murphy grounded to third base where Pedro Alvarez bobbled the ball twice, allowing Kirk Nieuwenhuis to score and give New York a 3-1 lead.

“Cruz hasn’t given up a whole lot this year,” Hurdle said. “…We had three balls go off gloves that inning that scored two runs.”

The Pirates grabbed one of those runs right back in the bottom of the eighth when McCutchen hit an RBI single to score Jose Tabata, but Frank Francisco sent the Buccos down 1-2-3 in the bottom of the ninth to end the game.

“Tough loss, everybody played hard,” McDonald said. “We played some good defense at times. My team did what I asked of them, and that’s play hard behind me.

“That’s all you can ask for.”

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

Joe is a die-hard New York sports fan, and had himself a rough night last night.

Hear the entire interview with the Fan Morning Show by clicking below:

However, that’s just what the Pirates did. Pittsburgh scored twice in the fourth, twice in the seventh and score the game-winning run in the eighth to beat New York, 5-4.

Andrew McCutchen followed a Josh Harrison double with a double of his own, scoring the Pirates first run in the bottom of the fourth. Pedro Alvarez made it three doubles in a row, and the Mets lead was cut in half, 4-2.

After a Clint Barmes single to lead off the bottom of the seventh, Michael McKenry hit a home run to left-center field, tying the game, 4-4.

Then in the bottom of the eighth, Barmes drove in Neil Walker from third base on a sacrifice fly to right field for the first Pittsburgh lead of the night, 5-4.

Pirates closer Joel Hanrahan came on in the ninth and sent the Mets down 1-2-3 for his 10th save of the season.

Erik Bedard struggled early on for the Pirates, burning through 70 pitches in just three innings. He pitched five innings total, allowing four runs on six hits and throwing 97 pitches (54 for strikes).

New York starter Johan Santana pitched 6 1/3 innings, allowing four runs on eight hits while striking out seven.

McCutchen had two of the Pirates eight hits, as seven starters registered at least one hit on the night.

Pittsburgh’s record improves to 20-22 on the season with Monday night’s win.

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According to the Pirates’ official website, Jason Grilli has been placed on the Bereavement List due to the passing of his wife’s grandmother.

To fill his spot on the roster, the Pirates have called up left-hander Jeff Locke from Triple-A Indianapolis.

In eight starts this season, Locke is 3-3 with a 3.02 ERA.

Locke made his MLB debut last season with the Pirates and went 0-3 with a 6.48 ERA in four starts.

The Tigers and Pirates have split the first two games of the series and will close out the series today at 1:05 p.m. at Comerica Park.

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Former Pittsburgh Pirates’ pitcher Steve Blass lived that life. He sat down with KDKA’s Rick Dayton to talk about his book that details how his world was turned upside down.

“I have absolute respect for other sports books,” Blass said. “They are fine, but I don’t think anybody has this particular aspect of the story.”

Blass’ book, “A Pirate for Life,” chronicles how he went from winning two games in the 1971 World Series to not being able to throw a strike.

“The bottom of the pit, the abyss as I call it in the book was just devastating because I didn’t know why this was happening,” said Blass. “I won 19 games, finished second in the Cy Young, and then I can’t find home plate. It was humiliating; it was embarrassing. There’s nothing worse for a professional major league athlete then being in the arena, and knowing you shouldn’t be there.”

• Watch Steve Blass on Pittsburgh Today Live!

Three short years later, the World Series MVP was out of the game and saying little about it.

“I thought I was protecting my family, and I also internalized it because there are a lot of people with a rougher go of it than I had. I was a baseball player that was struggling,” he said. “There are people with a lot bigger issues than that, so I wasn’t exposing it, but now this is full disclosure and with the separation of time, I am okay with that.”

Some call it “Steve Blass Disease” – athletes who go inexplicably from the top of their game to an inability to perform.

Blass tackles the subject and remembers other moments.

“Played in an All-Star Game, a World Series, played with three hall of famers – Maz, Clemente and Stargell. I mean this is fair tale stuff,” said Blass. “The Pirates, when I was 18, gave me a chance to live that dream and I’m still living it, so they have my loyalty forever.”

To this day, Blass wears his 1971 World Series ring, a reminder of a special moment and what a charmed ride it has been.

“Out of a fairy tale life, I had two very difficult years, but on each side of that it’s been absolutely terrific,” he says.

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A judge ordered Coonelly to enter a program for first-time offenders.

If he does not have a second offense in the next five years, his record will be cleared. If he does, he could face time in jail.

Ross Township police pulled over Coonelly in December just off of the Parkway North near the Perrysville exit.

They say his blood alcohol level was twice the legal limit.

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McDonald had a no-hitter through five innings, at one point striking out six straight batters. He allowed three runs on four hits, throwing 5 2/3 innings.

McDonald’s first hit allowed ended up leading the Buccos (18-20) into a jam. Leading, 4-0, in the sixth, Jesus Flores and Stephen Lombardozzi doubled, putting runners at second and third with one out.

Ryan Zimmerman followed with a single that scored Flores and Lombardozzi to cut the deficit to 4-2. Adam LaRoche tripled in the next at-bat, scoring Zimmerman and all of a sudden the Pirates led by just one, 4-3.

Pittsburgh answered in the top of the seventh, as Neil Walker drove in Josh Harrison on a fielder’s choice for an insurance run and a 5-3 advantage.

McCutchen was the story early on. He hit a home run in the first inning to the opposite field to put the Pirates up, 1-0. After Rod Barajas hit a two-run homer in the fourth, McCutchen led off the sixth with a solo shot to left field for a 4-0 lead.

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Before getting to what A.J. has done this year, we had the Pirates’ ace tell us about how he has taken James McDonald under his wing and helped him take the next step everyone has been waiting for from him.

We also got into the pressure Burnett felt in New York compared to Pittsburgh, and he said it was more a case of him putting too much pressure on himself and always trying to make the perfect pitch.

A.J. also told us what it was like getting traded from the Yankees to the Pirates, and how he embraced the situation since the Pirates represented a team that really wanted him.

We wrapped things up with A.J. having him discuss the lineup hitting behind him, and whether or not it gets frustrating with such little run support.

Easler was nicknamed the “Hit Man” because he could hit.

He has now turned that into a job as a hitting coach with the Buffalo Bisons.

His heart still belongs to Pittsburgh, so he keeps up with the team.

Click the link below to listen to the full interview:

Bowa thinks the Pirates will be able to stay in the race because of their starting rotation.

He doesn’t see it falling apart like last year.

Listen to the full interview here:

Bedard gave up three solo homers and Evan Meek, just called up from the minors, allowed three runs in one inning of relief as the Nationals beat the Pirates, 7-4.

Bedard was rather efficient in the early going, allowing two runs in the game’s first five innings. And when he seemed to be at his best — he retired 11 straight batters as he worked through the sixth — things took a severe turn.

Adam LaRoche and Xavier Nady, both former Pirates, hit back-to-back solo home runs with two outs to put the Nationals (23-14) up, 4-1, through six innings.

It was Bedard’s first start after leaving a game against the Nationals May 9 with back spasms. He missed one start.

Meek came on in relief in the seventh and was wild, hitting a batter and walking two more to load the bases for LaRoche. He came up big again, doubling down the right field line to score three more and put Washington ahead, 7-3.

It was LaRoche’s 1,000th career hit. He finished the game 3 for 4 from the plate with a home run, double and four RBIs.

Third baseman Josh Harrison provided most of the Pirates (17-20) offense on the night. He was 2 for 4 from the plate with a home run and three RBIs.

First baseman Casey McGehee added a fourth Pittsburgh run in the eighth on a sacrifice fly.

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Presley is mired in a 3-for-34 slump at the plate and is hitless in his last 14 at-bats in the majors. He got off to a hot start to start the season but is now hitting just .220 with seven RBIs.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said the demotion is in an effort for Presley to work out his hitting issues in the minors. He said Presley just doesn’t have it right now, but he also said that Presley is part of the team’s long-term plans in the outfield.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Presley back in the majors within a couple weeks if all goes well. He’s clearly a better player than Yamaico Navarro and Nate McLouth — both will fill Presley’s spot — and he has more potential.

If Presley can get a good string of games and at-bats together in Indy he should find his way back to Pittsburgh soon.

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

He tells us which pitcher has surprised him the most, what A.J. Burnett has brought to the staff, and what the future may hold for Brad Lincoln.

Ray also gives all the credit to Neal Huntington for assembling the pitching staff, and explains why he doesn’t worry about the offense’s struggles.

This week, we start of talking about Kevin Correia’s poor start on Tuesday night against the Marlins.

We also get his thoughts on Bryce Harper, and the Washington Nationals as the Pirates will see them for the second season series tonight.

For the entire interview, click below:

With the game tied, 1-1, Correia allowed five runs on five hits in the bottom of the fourth and the Marlins blew the game open en route to a 6-2 win.

Correia loaded the bases with a walk and two singles and then gave up a single to John Buck that scored two. After a sacrifice that moved Buck to second and an intentional walk to Jose Reyes, Omar Infante singled to score two more.

Hanley Ramirez doubled in the next at-bat to give the Marlins a 6-1 lead and virtually ensured victory against a Pirates team that continually struggles to score runs.

Correia went 3 2/3 innings, allowing six earned runs on eight hits while walking four. His counterpart, Marlins starter Josh Johnson, pitched seven innings and allowed two runs on six hits.

Chris Resop relieved Correia and pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings. Tony Watson pitched a scoreless seventh and Jared Hughes a scoreless eighth.

Pittsburgh jumped out to an early lead in the first inning when Garrett Jones singled to right field, scoring Andrew McCutchen. The Buccos had runners on second and third with two outs, but Clint Barmes lined out to third base to end the early threat.

An opportunity presented itself in the third, when Jose Tabata and Neil Walker led off the inning with back-to-back singles. Instead of capitalize, though, McCutchen struck out and Pedro Alvarez grounded into an inning-ending double play.

The Pirates got a run back in the seventh on a solo home run from Michael McKenry, but that was all they could muster.

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“Every time I walk out in the field,” Singh says, “it feels like I belong here like I’ve been playing baseball here my whole life.”

Only he hasn’t played baseball his whole life. In fact, up until four years ago the word “baseball” had never entered his vocabulary.

“I’d never ever heard of what baseball is,” he says. “Never even seen it on TV. Never heard of baseball.”

That’s because Rinku grew up in rural India.

“Hard life,” he describes it. “Yeah, you can say that.”

The son of a truck driver, Rinku was a standout javelin thrower when a TV show changed his life forever.

“My javelin coach told me there’s a TV reality show called ‘Million Dollar Arm’,” Rinku remembers. “He said, ‘Why don’t you try out?’

“I said, ‘No, I don’t want to go hurt myself.’

“He said, ‘No just go and try.’”

Singh became a baseball player and won. He didn’t take home a million dollars, but did get $100,000 and a trip to America.

Along with runner up Dinesh Patel, the two worked out in front of pro baseball scouts. But only one team came calling – the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Many thought it was a joke.

“Yeah, to be honest, it was not real well received,” says Pirates General Manager Neal Huntington. “It was a publicity stunt, or it’s a marketing ploy. This opportunity came and we wanted to be the first organization to sign somebody out of India.”

Unable to speak English and unaware what a strikeout was, Rinku studied the game of baseball every minute of every day.

“That first time I had a strikeout,” he remembers, “I really couldn’t believe how much I was happy. People talk about strikeouts, I’m watching it on TV.”

“I’m impressed,” says his pitching coach in West Virginia Willie Glen. “To have only picked up a baseball four years ago, he’s come a long way pretty quickly.”

Huntington agrees.

“To have no baseball at all,” he says, “to where he’s able to compete at Low-A level, and some scouts say he has a chance, is fascinating.”

As he pursues his newfound dream, halfway around the world from his home, Rinku hasn’t seen his parents in years.

“Mom and Dad have no idea what I’m doing here,” Rinku says. “No idea. Every time I talk to them all they just say: ‘Do not forget what you’re there for and where you’re coming from. Do not forget that.’”

So could this former javelin thrower from India one day play at PNC Park?

“We weren’t sure they were ever gonna make it to play baseball under the lights, let alone make it to the major leagues,” Huntington says, “and Rinku has made it under the lights. He’s having success. It’s a great story and it’s gonna be a lot of fun to see how far he can take it.”

“He’s into the realm of baseball stuff,” Glen says. “He’s got that down. He’s on his way somewhere.”

“I don’t know about the future,” Rinku says, “but I think if I’m gonna keep working hard at what I’m doing now, it’s not gonna take long time to get there. It’s all about work ethic and I believe in it.”

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Don, formerly a great hitter, is still teaching professional hitters at Wright Pro in California. He gives us some suggestions on how the Pirates hitters can start getting the bat on the ball. Don gives us an idea just how important it is for players to keep from over-thinking during their at-bats.

For the entire interview, click below:

He pitched six innings, allowing just two runs on six hits, and Pittsburgh won, 3-2. He threw 80 pitches, which was more than he expected to toss.

The win is the Pirates third in a row — their first three-game winning streak of the season. In turn, they closed to within a game of .500 with a 17-18 record.

Erik Bedard was scheduled to start Monday’s game, but he suffered back spasms last Wednesday and was forced to miss a start while he recovers.

Lincoln, who has been valuable out of the bullpen to start the season in long relief situations, continued his consistent success.

Most importantly, Lincoln ate up innings, limited Miami’s runs and helped out a depleted bullpen.

Jose Tabata doubled to lead off the first inning and was driven in by Andrew McCutchen two batters later. The Marlins answered in the bottom of the first, as Hanley Ramirez blasted a solo home run to left field to tie the game, 1-1.

Rod Barajas responded with a solo shot of his own in the top of the second to put the Buccos back on top, 2-1, and that lead held until the bottom of the fourth when Emilio Bonifacio singled to center, scoring Logan Morrison.

The Pirates had an answer, though, as they never trailed. After a single to left field by McCutchen in the sixth, Pedro Alvarez hit a double to the gap in left-center field. It drove home McCutchen, which proved to be the winning run.

Jared Hughes and Jason Grilli each pitched a scoreless inning of relief, setting up Joel Hanrahan to earn his seventh save of the season.

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Listen to the song below!

Enjoy:

‘Teke’ tells us how eerily similar this season is to last season to this point. The pitching depth will be the difference from last season according to Teke, saying that it will help the team avoid a monumental collapse like the one that happened last season. But, only if the Pirates’ offense can get better.

For the entire interview, click below:

The Pirates lost to Houston, 1-0, Friday night, managing just four hits. It was a night full of oddities, punctuated by a blown bases-loaded, no-out situation in the sixth inning.

Catcher Rod Barajas doubled, shortstop Clint Barmes singled and pitcher James McDonald bunted and reached base, setting up the bases loaded with no outs. A fly ball would have likely scored a run, but Pittsburgh’s bats couldn’t manage any quality contact.

Right fielder Jose Tabata struck out, left fielder Nate McLouth popped out to second and center fielder Andrew McCutchen struck out swinging, ending the threat.

The lack of offense wasted a stellar start from McDonald, who pitched eight innings and allowed just one run on four hits. He struck out eight and walked just two.

Houston’s one and only run came in the top of the second off McDonald, when left fielder Justin Maxwell grounded into a double play that scored Brian Bogusevic for a 1-0 lead.

It was all the Astros needed.

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Strasburg struck out 13 Pirates batters, just one short of his major league debut against Pittsburgh last season when he sat down 14.

Predictably, much of the post-game chatter was in response to Strasburg and his performance.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle, first baseman Garrett Jones, starting pitcher Kevin Correia and right fielder Jose Tabata all spoke after the game.

Here’s what they had to say…

Clint Hurdle:

Garrett Jones:

Kevin Correia:

Jose Tabata:

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

That question arose because of low attendance for a Tuesday-Thursday series against the Washington Nationals, which featured star rookie outfielder Bryce Harper and pitching phenom Stephen Strasburg. Tuesday and Wednesday PNC Park featured barely over 10,000 fans (and that was paid attendance), and Thursday, with Strasburg on the mound, just  over 15,000 fans showed up.

While those numbers are low and many Pittsburghers missed out on seeing future stars in Pittsburgh for the first time, it’s incredibly hard for me to criticize Pirates fans for not showing up.

When discussing topics like this, you first have to mention the absolute reality of the situation: Pittsburgh is going on 20 years of losing baseball — a streak no other city in the United States has ever seen.

While the start to last season was exciting and inspired confidence in some, the finish to the season was crushing and, in turn, lost a lot of those that were turned into believers. It’s going to take a lot to win this city over, plain and simple.

With that said, the attendance at Pirates games is impressive given the streak. This kind of losing in other towns would probably end in relocation.

Now, on to the most recent stretch of games at PNC Park.

As media members, it’s easy to look at this Pirates-Nationals series and salivate a little over the young talent on the diamond. We know the type of promise and potential there is in the Pirates clubhouse, and that is mirrored in Washington with the likes of Strasburg and Harper.

But that’s what we get paid to do. We’re supposed to know about these young up-and-comers. To the average fan, which typically lends most of its attention to solely the home town team, Pirates-Nationals isn’t circled when the schedule is released.

But looking at attendance at this park in even the worst of seasons, visiting teams with rich traditions or established superstars have sold out left and right. Every time Barry Bonds and the San Francisco Giants visited, every time the Yankees or Red Sox have been in town, this stadium has been full.

It’s pretty full against divisional opponents, too.

Week night games have never drawn very well, and it’s hard to be surprised that this Pirates-Nationals series followed suit.

Washington has no history. It has a bunch of promising players very few people know about.

Oh yea, the Pirates are out there, too.

It’s a series featuring the two lowest-scoring teams in the majors. And don’t act like weather isn’t a factor, either. The series continues to get less attractive when it’s 40-some degrees in the latter innings.

So let’s not give up on Pittsburgh as a baseball town just yet. In my opinion, this series shows fans in this town haven’t changed.

And all along we’ve called it a good baseball town.

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

He pitched six innings, allowing just five hits and two runs (one earned) to earn his third win of the season.

“That’s a good arm,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “With a kid with a head to work with it, the progress he’s made in a short period of time at this level, it’s something.”

His counterpart, Pirates starter Kevin Correia, was also impressive. He pitched seven innings on a night when the Pirates desperately needed it after the bullpen was forced to pitch eight combined innings the night before.

However, he left a couple pitches hanging in the zone that Washington took advantage of.

Leading 2-0 in the sixth, Roger Bernadina and Adam LaRoche each hit home runs to center field for the Nationals. Bernadina led off the inning with a solo shot, and LaRoche followed with a two-run homer after Ryan Zimmerman walked.

“I needed to be efficient and I did that,” Correia said. “If I could take back a pitch or two I think it would have been a pretty good game. Obviously, when you’re facing one of the better pitchers in the league you have less room for error.

“That ended up costing us the game.”

The Bucs had a chance to make up for those three runs in the bottom of the sixth, as Strasburg uncharacteristically lost some of his control.

After a ground out and a strikeout, Strasburg walked Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker, setting up a bases loaded situation for Garrett Jones.

Jones, who had already struck out twice, got into a hole early in the count and struck out swinging for a third time, ending the threat.

“I know he wants to be aggressive and throw strikes,” Jones said. “He’s definitely not a guy that’s wild. He throws strikes.

“I was just ready for pitch No. 1 and get a good pitch to hit. He gave me a couple pitches to hit. I just swung right through them.”

It was the biggest threat the rest of the way, as Pittsburgh managed just one base runner in the final three innings.

Rick Ankiel hit a solo homer to right field off Pirates reliever Chris Resop for extra insurance to ice the game for Washington.

“He can pitch,” Pirates right fielder Jose Tabata said. “Fastball, curveball, slider, changeup — we battled, but he won today.”

It was Pittsburgh that jumped out to the first lead Thursday night.

After seven straight strikeouts from Strasburg, the Pirates broke through in the fourth. Tabata singled and advanced to second on an Alex Presley bunt. McCutchen followed with a single to right, driving in Tabata.

Nationals right fielder Bryce Harper attempted a throw home, allowing McCutchen to take second. That choice by Harper proved costly, as Walker singled two batters later to drive in McCutchen and give the Buccos a 2-0 lead.

Tabata led all Pirates batters with two hits. McCutchen, Walker and Michael McKenry also had base hits.

“It would have been definitely great to get the sweep,” Jones said. “(We’ve) been playing great baseball the last two games. (We) battled hard all game. It would have been great to get three (wins), but it didn’t work out for us this time.”

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Hanrahan is expected to travel back home to Iowa for three days to be with his family. He should rejoin the roster Sunday.

In his place, the Pirates recalled Daniel McCutchen from Triple-A Indianapolis. He is 2-2 with a 2.49 ERA in the minors this season.

–

Chris Gates | Bucs Blog
Twitter.com/Chris_Gates
Chris.Gates@cbsradio.com

After a five-pitch first inning for starting pitcher Erik Bedard, he was pulled from the game before recording an out in the second because of back spasms. In turn, the bullpen was forced to finish out the final eight innings.

They did so in impressive form.

Brad Lincoln pitched through the fourth, followed by two innings from Jared Hughes and innings from Juan Cruz, Jason Grilli and Joel Hanrahan, who recorded his sixth save just one night after blowing an opportunity.

Each pitcher out of the bullpen allowed just one hit. Lincoln and Cruz allowed one run each. Only Cruz’s was earned.

“We needed all the length we could get tonight,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “Lincoln and Hughes were big keys in that ballgame so we could get to Cruz and Grilli and Hanrahan — very efficient with their pitches.

Hurdle added he was impressed with the way Lincoln was able to come from sitting in the bullpen to pitching three innings of one-hit, one-run baseball with four strikeouts.

Lincoln has been forced into several games early this season to relieve a starter. He said he’s getting used to the unpredictable nature of the job.

“It was actually good because I had no time to think about getting in the game,” Lincoln said. “You go in there and you give ‘em what you got. That’s what I did (Wednesday night).”

After relieving Bedard, Lincoln struck out swinging but reached base. He ended up scoring the game’s first run in the third when Neil Walker singled to right with men on first and third.

Andrew McCutchen followed with another single to right for a 2-0 lead, and two batters later Casey McGehee drove in McCutchen on an infield single.

Washington answered in the top of the fourth, as Xavier Nady singled to right, scoring Bryce Harper. Chad Tracy hit a pinch hit sacrifice fly off Juan Cruz in the seventh — his first run surrendered this season — and the Pirates lead was cut to one, 3-2.

Both Cruz in the seventh and Grilli in the eighth worked their way out of jams. Grilli had the bases loaded with just one out and struck out Danny Espinosa and Rick Ankiel to preserve the one-run lead.

“We pitched ourselves into some tight corners tonight, and they were able to get out of them,” Hurdle said. “Cruz was able to get out. Obviously Grilli, (you can’t get) much deeper than he was, got a couple punch outs.”

Pittsburgh scored an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth, as McCutchen belted a home run to left field — his second in as many nights — and Hanrahan came on to close it out in the ninth.

“It was nice to be able to give Joel a little bit of insurance,” McCutchen said. “It was good to get that one extra run so he could operate a little bit.”

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