Jones powers Bucs to win
SAN FRANCISCO — Garrett Jones started the game as Pittsburgh's offensive star. He ended it as an unlikely defensive hero.
Jones had three hits and two RBI, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 Tuesday night.
Akinori Iwamura and Andy LaRoche homered for the Pirates, who ended a six-game losing streak at AT&T Park. It was their first victory in San Francisco since September 2008.
Evan Meek (1-0) pitched two scoreless innings for the win and Octavio Dotel held on for his second save in two opportunities.
"That's not the way I had it planned but it worked out," Dotel said.
Eugenio Velez hit a two-run homer off Dotel in the ninth but the closer responded by retiring three straight, getting Pablo Sandoval to line out to the 6-foot-5 Jones, three inches taller than starter Jeff Clement, to end the game.
"That was a great play," Pirates manager John Russell said. "The reaction on that ball was really good. It was hit hard; a nice way to end the game."
Jones said he had trouble picking up the ball off Sandoval's bat.
"That was a shot," said Jones, who moved into the infield late in the game. "I just barely saw it off the bat and I just had to get the full extension and luckily it went right in the glove."
Matt Cain allowed three runs and five hits in six innings for the Giants, who lost for just the second time. Cain retired the last 10 batters he faced.
Paul Maholm pitched five-plus innings for the Pirates, yielding three runs and eight hits.
"I never got into a perfect rhythm but that lineup is a challenge," Maholm said. "There are no easy outs — even Cain has a couple of hits off of me, so it wasn't like I was extremely comfortable."
Pittsburgh went in front for good in the eighth. With one out and a runner on first, Lastings Milledge hit a comebacker to Jeremy Affeldt but shortstop Edgar Renteria couldn't handle the throw to second. Jones then grounded a single into right field to give the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
