Bucs Grind Out 2-1 Win

Well, the Bucs forgot their bats for AJ again. He went seven innings, giving up a run on five hits and two walks with four K, exiting with the game tied. So that's four starts with a 1.80 ERA and no wins; the team has backed him with all of four runs. Sheesh.

AJ surrendered a run in the second on a two out single that was bobbled by El Coffee; the Bucs tied it in the fourth when The Kid and Pedro banged back-to-back, two-out doubles off Rubby De La Rosa. And there it sat until the ninth.

The Pirates went quietly in the eighth, and Tony Watson worked a wild and wooly, but ultimately scoreless, frame. The D-backs got the first two guys aboard, and a soft roller by Paul Goldschmidt moved them up a station. Tony got Mark Trumbo on a foul pop and whiffed Aaron Hill to enjoy another day at the beach.

The Pirates have become two-out terrors, and tonight's final frame was no different. Again with the bases empty and two gone, they struck when Walker smacked another double and Starling Marte followed with a thank you ma'am hopper that was perfectly placed and paced past a diving shortstop to give Pittsburgh the lead of Arizona closer Addison Reed.

The Kid led the way (photo Al Behrman/Associated Press)

Mark the Shark was short on velocity and command, but with a little help from his friends got the job done. A one out single was erased when Tuffy Gosewisch was nailed stealing; Fran Cervelli's throw was high but Jordy dropped it bunny-quick on Tuffy to get the call. Melancon then walked Cliff Pennington, but a Yasmany Tomas bouncer to The Kid ended the game with the Bucs up 2-1. Tony got the win, the Shark the save, and AJ another "atta boy."

The Bucs go for the sweep tomorrow afternoon when Francisco Liriano faces Jeremy Hellickson.

• Neil Walker's hitting streak reached eight games.
• Mark Melancon notched his third save in three days.
• The Pirates have a four game winning streak, their longest in April since 2008.
• Gregory Polanco was picked off first, but otherwise has been pretty stellar on the basepaths - his steal (upheld after review) made him 7-for-7, ranked third in the NL.
• AJ's single was the first hit by a Pirate pitcher not named Gerrit Cole. And for as well as he's pitched, this is the first 2015 start of his that Pittsburgh has won.
• In the past three days, not only the Pirates but all their minor league clubs - Indy, Altoona, Bradenton and West Virginia - have gone undefeated, with a 15-0 mark.