A.J. Burnett, Pedro Alvarez lead Pirates over Indians

Cleveland, OH, United States (AHN Sports) – A.J. Burnett pitched 6 2/3 solid innings and third baseman Pedro Alvarez rocked two homers to help the Pittsburgh Pirates snap out of a four-game funk by beating the Cleveland Indians, 9-2 Saturday in the second game of a three-game interleague series at Progressive Field.

Burnett (7-2) allowed six hits, including a pair of solo homers, walked four and struck out two for his sixth consecutive victory.

The right-hander became the first Pirates pitcher accomplish that feat since 1990, when Doug Drabek did it on his way to the National League Cy Young Award.

Alvarez homered in the 2nd inning to tie the count at one after Asdrubal Cabrera hit one out of the park in the opening frame. He hit his 10th homer — a two-run shot — in the 9th to complete the rout of the Indians.

Ubaldo Jimenez (6-5) allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings, including two homers to Alvarez and first baseman Casey McGehee in the sixth inning. He walked only two and struck out six.

McGehee finished 2-for-4 with four RBI while Alvarez drove in three runs for the Pirates.

McGehee’s two-run homer put the Pirates ahead 4-2 in the top of the sixth to counter Casey Kotchman’s earlier home run that tied the count at two.

It was all Pirates from there as Alex Presley homered in the seventh and McGehee added a two-run single in the ninth before Alvarez capped the Pirates’ four-run game with another homer.

It was the Pirates’ second four-homer game of the season, with the other coming June 3 in Milwaukee.

The two squads square off anew Sunday in the last game of the interleague series, with Jeanmar Gomez (4-5) pitching for the Indians against Brad Lincoln (3-2) for the Pirates.

After an outstanding start, Lincoln lost his last two decisions, giving up 15 hits and nine earned runs against the Baltimore Orioles and the Cincinnati Reds.

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