PITTSBURGH, Aug. 25 (UPI) -- Neil Walker's three-run triple in the third inning Wednesday started the Pittsburgh Pirates on their way to a 5-2 victory over St. Louis.
The Pirates have won back-to-back games for the first time in four weeks.
Walker's key blow gave Pittsburgh a 3-0 lead and Daniel McCutchen protected it with six shutout innings.
McCutchen (2-5) gave up three hits and struck out five. He was returned to the starting rotation after having produced an ERA of 1.74 in nine relief appearances during August.
McCutchen's only other victory this year came July 1 against Philadelphia.
Four Pittsburgh relievers combined to keep Pittsburgh in front and Joel Hanrahan finished it off in the ninth by giving up a run in a non-save situation.
Jose Tabata drove in a run with an infield single in the fourth to give Pittsburgh a 4-0 lead and Garrett Jones added a solo homer in the eighth.
St. Louis fell 3 1/2 games behind first-place Cincinnati in the National League Central. The loss went to Jake Westbrook (1-2), who gave up four runs on six hits in six innings.
