Phillies 4, Pirates 2
PHILADELPHIA -- Aaron Harang threw eight scoreless innings, allowing five hits and striking out six, and the Philadelphia Phillies took advantage of several Pittsburgh Pirates miscues in a 4-2 win to salvage a split in the four-game, interstate series.
Through four home starts, Harang (4-3, 2.03 ERA) has allowed just two runs in 29 1/3 innings (0.61 ERA), which is the best home ERA among qualified starters in the National League.
For his career, the former Cincinnati Reds pitcher is now 17-8 (.680) against Pittsburgh, his highest winning percentage against any major league team.
Harang was helped by some poor Pittsburgh defense in the first few innings.
Phillies leadoff hitter Ben Revere reached safely on a bobbled ball by Pirates second baseman Neil Walker, and four of the next five hitters reached base. Third baseman Cesar Hernandez drew a bases-loaded walk with one out to score Revere, and right fielder Grady Sizemore followed with an RBI single up the middle to make it 2-0 in the first inning.
Miscues struck again in the third inning when Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer misplayed a ground ball with two on and two outs, allowing Phillies counterpart Freddy Galvis to score his second run of the day.
Pirates starter Vance Worley (2-3), a former Phillie, lasted four innings, giving up three runs (one earned) and taking to loss to fall. His ERA dropped slightly to 4.38.
Galvis entered the game with the fifth-highest batting average in the NL and improved it, going 3-for-3 with a walk and two runs to raise his average to .353.
Phillies first baseman Ryan Howard tacked on his seventh home run of the season in the fifth inning, taking a first-pitch fastball from reliever Radhames Liz and sending it into the bleachers in right field. Howard went 3-for-4 to raise his average to .230.
The Pirates threatened in the ninth, scoring two and putting the tying run at the plate, but Phillies closer Jonathan Papelbon retired pinch-hitter Andrew McCutchen on a popout to Howard in foul territory for his eighth save of the season.
NOTES: Pirates starting RHP Vance Worley was drafted by the Phillies in 2008 and spent the first five years of his pro career with the organization, including making 46 starts for the big-league club from 2010 to 2012 before being traded to the Minnesota Twins. ... The Phillies picked up their first win in franchise history exactly 132 years ago today (May 14, 1883), defeating the Chicago White Stockings 12-1 after losing the first eight games of their inaugural season. ...This was the first of four consecutive day games for the Pirates, who are 6-4 in their first 10 day games of the season.