Pirates endure 13-run inning
PHOENIX — Edwin Jackson just needed to connect at the plate to find his rhythm on the mound.
A team-record 13-run burst in the fourth inning, capped by the first homer of Jackson's career, put the Arizona newcomer into his comfort level.
Jackson, Chris Young and Kelly Johnson all homered in the big inning to send the Diamondbacks over the Pittsburgh Pirates 15-6 Sunday.
Jackson (1-1) went into the bottom of the fourth trailing 4-2 after giving up seven hits, but allowed only three hits in three scoreless innings after that.
"At first I had an adrenaline rush and was just too fast," he said. "I had to take a step back and slow down a little bit."
Jackson had two of Arizona's eight hits in the fourth and became the first pitcher to score two runs in an inning since last Aug. 14, when Randy Wells of the Cubs did it against Pittsburgh. Jackson singled early in the fourth, then finished it off with a two-run homer.
"When I saw (center fielder Andrew) McCutchen break down I knew it was gone, but I didn't know off the bat it was gone," said Jackson, who hadn't had a hit since June 18, 2007, against Arizona and was a career .129 hitter entering the day.
Catcher Chris Snyder, starting because Miguel Montero was placed on the 15-day disabled list with a right knee sprain earlier in the day, homered for Arizona and tied his career high with five RBIs.
"Definitely not the way you want to get back in," Snyder said. "... It couldn't have worked out any better."
Young's homer was his third in four games and he drove in four runs, giving him nine RBIs for the series.
Stephen Drew drove in two runs and every Diamondbacks starter scored.
The Diamondbacks easily surpassed the club record of eight runs in an inning. They matched a regular-season team mark for hits — they got nine in a 2001 World Series game against the Yankees.
The Pirates tied a team record for most runs allowed in an inning. The other times were 1994 and 1890.
Jackson (1-1) settled down after a rough start to win his first game with Arizona. He was an All-Star last year with Detroit and was acquired in a three-team trade that sent Curtis Granderson to the Yankees.
Daniel McCutchen (0-1) lasted 3 1-3 innings in his season debut. He allowed nine runs on six hits, including three home runs. Seven runs and two of the homers came in the fourth.
"That's probably the worst (inning) I've had," he said. "No fun out there. I wish I would have been more mentally strong and stayed within myself a little more."
Bobby Crosby homered for the Pirates, Lastings Milledge had three hits and Delwyn Young drove in two runs.
