Jeff Karstens pitched seven innings and struck out seven, while allowing four runs.
Shane Victorino accounted for three of the runs, two of them coming on a home run.
Juan Cruz struggled in the eighth, loading the bases and leaving the game with one out.
Tony Watson allowed one of Cruz's runs to score and allowed a lead off double in the ninth before being relieved by
Jason Grilli. Grilli came in with one out in the ninth and stranded a runner at third striking out
Mark Ellis and
Matt Kemp.
The offense was sparked tonight by
Garrett Jones, who drove in three of the four Pirate runs. He finished the night going 4-4 with two doubles. He had a terrific leaping catch into the centerfield wall saving at least one run, which you will most likely be seeing on highlight reels tonight.
Michael McKenry drove in the other run in the eighth inning with a RBI single.
It was a tough loss and the Pirates will try to bounce back tomorrow night.
