Tony Sanchez's single in the bottom of the seventh inning drove in the deciding run and lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a wild 9-8 decision over the Baltimore Orioles at PNC Park.
Starling Marte and Ike Davis each went 3-for-4 with two RBI to help Pittsburgh erupt for an 8-6 lead after two innings of play, and neither team scored again until Baltimore's J.J. Hardy and Steve Pearce each ripped RBI singles in the top of the eighth.
Andrew McCutchen also collected three hits, including an RBI double, to offset a brutal stint by Pirates starter Wandy Rodriguez.
Rodriguez was rocked for six runs on seven hits before exiting after only 1 2/3 innings, though only one run was earned due to a costly error he committed that enabled the Orioles to score six times in the second.
Chris Tillman was equally ineffective for Baltimore, however, permitting eight runs -- six earned -- on six hits and three walks before being yanked with no one out in the bottom of the second.
Nelson Cruz finished 3-for-5 with a home run and three RBI to pace the Orioles offensively. Chris Davis, coming off a three-homer performance in Baltimore's 9-2 win in Tuesday's opener of this two-game set, and Nick Markakis each ended 2-for-3 with an RBI.
[SportsNetwork.com]
