CINCINNATI - Pedro Alvarez hasn’t changed anything in June, except those RBI numbers. They’re way up there, just like the Pittsburgh Pirates.
Alvarez drove in all of Pittsburgh’s runs with a home run, a bases-loaded double and a single on Thursday for a 5-3 victory over the Cincinnati Reds and a split of their high-profile NL Central series.
The Pirates remain a half-game behind second-place Cincinnati after the four-game set, keeping them virtually shoulder-to-shoulder as they chase the torrid St. Louis Cardinals.
After blowing a one-run lead in the ninth and losing 2-1 in 13 innings on Wednesday night, Pittsburgh salvaged a game behind Alvarez and a bullpen running on fumes.
“We needed a big day from a number of people today and Pedro was one of them,” Pirates Manager Clint Hurdle said. “There was no bigger swing than with the bases loaded, left-on-left. Beautiful.”
Alvarez had an RBI single and his 16th home run off Homer Bailey, who couldn’t follow his no-hitter against Pittsburgh with a victory. After Alfredo Simon (5-3) loaded the bases in the seventh, Alvarez doubled off left-hander Tony Cingrani to snap a 2-2 tie.
The five RBI were a season high for a Pirate and one shy of Alvarez’s career high. The third baseman has been Pittsburgh’s top run producer in June, leading the team with 48 RBI.
It’s quite a change. Alvarez hit .180 in April and .225 in May before finding his form. He has six home runs in June, second-most in the NL.
NATIONALS 5, ROCKIES 1 Jordan Zimmermann pitched eight innings to win his 10th game, Adam LaRoche had three hits including a two-run triple and the host Nationals spoiled Roy Oswalt’s return to the majors with a victory over Colorado.
METS 4, BRAVES 3 David Wright hit two home runs, New York’s bullpen pitched five plus scoreless innings and overcame an injury to starting pitcher Jonathon Niese in a victory over host Atlanta.
CARDINALS 6, CUBS 1 Lance Lynn earned his 10th victory to tie for the NL lead, Matt Holliday homered and drove in two runs, and St. Louis beat visiting Chicago.
AMERICAN LEAGUE
RANGERS 4, ATHLETICS 3 Ian Kinsler put host Texas ahead for the first time with a two-run single in the seventh and held on for a series-clinching victory over AL West-leading Oakland. The Rangers pulled within a game of the Athletics by winning three times in the fourgame series. Kinsler came to the plate right after Leonys Martin’s hustling infield single, getting to first base ahead of Sean Doolittle (3-2) when the pitcher was taking the toss from first baseman Brandon Moss. That loaded the bases with two outs, and Kinsler hit a full-count pitch through the middle of the infield. The game ended when Josh Donaldson was thrown out at the plate trying to score from first on Seth Smith’s single to center.
TWINS 8, WHITE SOX 4 Brian Dozier’s two run home run for host Minnesota was one of a career-high four long balls hit off Chicago starter John Danks, and the Twins finished their first three-game sweep of the season and their first series victory over the White Sox in three years. TIGERS 4, RED SOX 3 Jhonny Peralta hit a two-run home run off Andrew Bailey in the bottom of the ninth inning to give Detroit a victory over visiting Boston.
RAYS 8, YANKEES 3 Evan Longoria homered twice and drove in three runs and Matt Moore ended a personal three-game skid as Tampa Bay beat host New York. Longoria reached 500 career RBI with a sacrifice fly in the third inning.
INTERLEAGUE
ASTROS 7, BREWERS 4 (10) Carlos Pena hit a three-run home run in the 10th inning, giving Houston a victory over visiting Milwaukee. Carlos Corporan struck out but reached on a wild pitch with one out in the 10th and J.D. Martinez followed with a double. Pena then launched the first-pitch home run off Michael Gonzalez (0-3) to the second deck in right field.
Thursday’s games
NATIONAL LEAGUE Pittsburgh 5, Cincinnati 3 Washington 5, Colorado 1 NY Mets 4, Atlanta 3 St. Louis 6, Chicago Cubs 1 LA Dodgers at San Diego, (n) Miami at San Francisco, (n)
AMERICAN LEAGUE Minnesota 8, Chicago White Sox 4 Texas 4, Oakland 3 Tampa Bay 8, NY Yankees 3 Detroit 4, Boston 3 Seattle at LA Angels (n)
INTERLEAGUE Houston 7, Milwaukee 4, (10)
Sports, Pages 25 on 06/21/2013