Pirates 5, Rockies 2
Francisco Liriano allowed two hits in seven scoreless innings while improving to 7-1 at home and Jose Tabata fell a double shy of the cycle for Pittsburgh, which scored runs in five consecutive frames.
Gaby Sanchez drove in a pair of runs while Andrew McCutchen, Josh Harrison and Tabata each knocked in one as the Pirates increased their lead over St. Louis in the National League Central to 1 1/2 games. Liriano (12-4) walked five and struck out six while Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth inning for his sixth save in seven chances.
Jorge De La Rosa (10-6) yielded three runs and six hits in four-plus frames as the Rockies fell to 1-5 on their 10-game road trip. Colorado trailed 5-0 before RBI singles by Troy Tulowitzki and Michael Cuddyer in the eighth preceded Wilin Rosario's inning-ending double play with two aboard.
The Pirates opened the scoring in the third inning, when McCutchen drilled a double off the right-field wall to drive home Starling Marte, who led off the frame with a single. Tabata began the fourth by crushing De La Rosa's 3-2 pitch over the wall in right-center as Pittsburgh improved to 48-18 when hitting a home run.
Sanchez's RBI bouncer up the middle eluded shortstop Tulowitzki in the fifth inning while Harrison's suicide squeeze plated Tabata, who led off the sixth with a triple. McCutchen singled with two outs in the seventh and stole second before scoring on Sanchez's single to left.
GAME NOTEBOOK: Liriano lowered his home ERA to 1.39 and has not allowed a home run while striking out 55 in 51 2/3 innings at PNC Park this season. ... Cuddyer returned to the lineup after missing two games because of personal reasons, while Rockies LF Carlos Gonzalez missed his third straight start because of an injured right middle finger. ... Colorado fell to 14-27 against left-handed starters.