Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 5
PHOENIX -- Garrett Jones continued his success in Arizona with three hits and two RBIs to help the Pittsburgh Pirates further distance themselves from a first-week hitting slump in a 6-5 victory over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night at Chase Field.
Jones singled in a run in the first inning and capped a decisive five-run fourth-inning with another RBI-single to help the Pirates (3-5) win consecutive games for the first time this season.
Starling Marte had two hits and two RBIs, and scored twice to help James McDonald to his first victory of the year. New closer Jason Grilli, who replaced free agent Joel Hanrahan, got his second save of the series and third of the season.
The Pirates, who scored only eight runs in their first six games, scored five runs in the first game of the series. They had a season-high 11 hits after entering the game with a .126 team batting average.
Miguel Montero had a two-run double and Jason Kubel had a two-run home run in the first inning, but the D-backs had only two more hits the rest of the way off McDonald and three relievers.
Montero's sacrifice fly with the bases loaded in the seventh inning drove in Alfredo Marte, who doubled to open the inning and moved up on two walks, but the D-backs got only one more runner on base.
The D-backs (5-3) lost their first series of the season after taking two of three from St. Louis and sweeping Milwaukee over the weekend as they got an early look at the NL Central.
Arizona scored four runs in the last of the first inning to take a 4-1 lead after Jones' single off second baseman Aaron Hill's glove scored Marte from second in the top of the inning.
Montero doubled to left-center for a 2-1 lead after two four-pitch walks by McDonald. Kubel hit his second home run of the season two batters later to make it 4-1, going the opposite way into the left-field stands.
The Pirates took a 6-4 lead with five runs off Brandon McCarthy in the fourth. Kubel dropped an inning-opening line drive before Travis Snider walked and McDonald singled to load the bases.
Marte doubled down the right-field line to drive in two runs, Neil Walker followed with a two-run single up the middle, and Jones finished the rally with a two-out single to drive in Walker. McCarthy has given up 12 runs in his first two D-backs starts after signing as a free agent in the offseason.
NOTES: Hill has reached safely in all eight games this season after walking in the first inning Tuesday. He was hit by a pitch in the left hand in the fifth inning but remained in the game. Hill signed a three-year, $35 million contract extension in the offseason after hitting a career-high .302 with a career-high 76 extra-base hits. ... After homering in the first game of the series Monday, Jones is hitting .326 with three home runs and eight RBIs in 14 career games at Chase Field. ... Diamondbacks outfielder Cody Ross (left calf) played at Class A Visalia on Tuesday and was then scheduled to continue his rehabilitation assignment at Class AAA Reno on Friday and Saturday, manager Kirk Gibson, before a decision is made on when to activate him. He could return for a nine-game road trip that begins April 16 against the New York Yankees. ... Pittsburgh infielder Brandon Inge (right scapula) is eligible to come off the disabled list for the final game of the series Wednesday, but he is not expected to join the Pirates until they return for a 10-game homestand that begins Friday. He went 0-for-4 while playing second base for Class AAA Indianapolis on Tuesday.
