Pirates 8, Rays 1
Pedro Alvarez belted a three-run homer and Edinson Volquez pitched eight strong innings as visiting Pittsburgh rolled over Tampa Bay in the opener of a three-game series.
Andrew McCutchen recorded three hits, two steals, two runs and a pair of RBIs while Starling Marte doubled and scored twice as the Pirates won for the fourth time in five games. Volquez (5-6) allowed one run on five hits, struck out just one in a season-high 110 pitches and was helped by three double plays.
James Loney collected two hits and knocked in the only run for the Rays, who surrendered a season-high four stolen bases and dropped to 3-7 in interleague play. Tampa Bay starter Alex Cobb (2-6) yielded six runs on six hits and three walks over five innings, losing for the fifth time in six outings.
Ike Davis’ RBI groundout opened the scoring and Russell Martin knocked in another in the first inning with an infield single off Cobb’s leg for a 2-0 edge. Loney’s two-out single cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first, but Marte’s leadoff double started a four-run rally for the Pirates in the third inning.
McCutchen singled up the middle to score Marte and four batters later Alvarez smashed a first-pitch fastball over the center field wall for his first homer since June 3. Travis Snider’s bloop single brought home a run in the eighth before McCutchen knocked in another in the ninth with a base hit.
GAME NOTEBOOK: McCutchen has now knocked in 53 runs in interleague play, moving past Brian Giles (51) for the most in club history. …Tampa Bay OF Jerry Sands is expected to miss about two weeks with a left wrist injury, but no roster move was made before the contest. … It was the first game in Tampa Bay for the Pirates since 2003 and Pittsburgh leads the all-time series 6-4.