Forum » , and the Pirates tied the score on Josh Harr

PITTSBURGH -- The Pittsburgh Pirates came up with a second straight comeback win. "Youve got to believe, though. Can you have faith?" said Jordy Mercer, whose pinch-hit double in the seventh inning tied the score. The next inning Neil Walker hit a two-run double to cap the comeback from a five-run deficit as Pittsburgh beat the Toronto Blue Jays 8-6 on Saturday night. The Pirates erased a 5-3, ninth-inning deficit in a win over the Blue Jays on Friday and clawed back from deficits of 5-0 in the fourth a 6-2 in the seventh Saturday. Aaron Loup relieved R.A. Dickey after Clint Barmes leadoff double in the seventh, and the Pirates tied the score on Josh Harrisons RBI double, Pedro Alvarezs run-scoring groundout and Mercers two-run double. "It just blew up on us," Blue Jays manager John Gibbons said. "I cant tell you anything more than that." The game-tying hit was a longtime coming for Mercer, who entered the game with a .151 batting average and hadnt driven in a run since April 15. "I know everybody here has my back so I dont think its really a confidence issue," Mercer said. "I think getting a hit for the team was bigger than anything." One inning later, Ike Davis reached on a one-out infield single against Todd Redmond (0-3), Harrison singled and Walker hit a drive off the top of the wall in centre field. "Tonight was one of the nights we didnt play real great defence, we didnt pitch real well, but somehow we found a way to win in the end," Walker said. "It doesnt have to be pretty." The Pirates could have boosted their lead in the ninth, but Starling Marte lined out to first against Chad Jenkins with the bases loaded. Bryan Morris (3-0) pitched a perfect eighth, and Mark Melancon earned his first save of the season in place of injured closer Jason Grilli, retiring Colby Ramus on a game-ending groundout with two on. Pittsburgh, which overcame four errors, won consecutive games for the first time since beating St. Louis and the Chicago Cubs on April 6 and 8. Torontos Jose Bautista hit his ninth homer of the year, extended his hitting streak to a career-high 13 games. He set a Blue Jays record by reaching base in a 30th consecutive game. "I dont think that were going to start pointing fingers at anybody just because weve lost a couple games in a particular fashion," Bautista said. Dickey allowed three runs, five hits and four walks, lowering his ERA to 5.01. "Hes a quality pitcher, an All-Star, hes won 20 games in the big leagues and he was on tonight," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "So as soon as hes out, its just better. Its no knock against anybody else, its just going to be different." Pirates starter Francisco Liriano gave up five runs -- four earned -- six hits and three walks in 3 2-3 innings, the second straight start he failed to reach the fourth. "I was trying to throw my sinker down and away and just missed my spots," Liriano said. Toronto built its early lead on Jose Reyes RBI double in the third and a four-run fourth that included Brett Lawries run-scoring double over Marte in left, Rasmus RBI single, Steve Tollesons run-scoring, double-play grounder and a bases-loaded walk to Melky Cabrera. Pittsburghs comeback began in the fourth when Dickey threw a run-scoring wild pitch, and Barmes hit an RBI groundout. "Were a little bit shell-shocked right now," Gibbons said. "But weve got to turn it around. Heck, its the start of May." NOTES: The Blue Jays removed RHP Sergio Santos from his role as interim closer after he blew three of his past four save opportunities. Gibbons said Toronto will use a closer-by-committee approach until Casey Janssen (oblique) returns from the DL. ... After optioning RHP Brandon Cumpton to the minor leagues Saturday, the Pirates have an open spot in their rotation Monday when they start a three-game set against San Francisco. LHP Wandy Rodriguez (right knee) could return from the DL. ... Toronto RHP Dustin McGowan (1-1, 5.87) is scheduled to pitch Sunday against Pittsburgh RHP Edinson Volquez (1-2, 3.21). NEW YORK -- Henrik Lundqvist earned his 300th NHL victory and 49th career shutout in the New York Rangers 3-0 victory over the Detroit Red Wings on Sunday. Lundqvist made 30 saves in shutting out the Red Wings for the second time this season, as New York completed a three-game season sweep of its Original Six rival. The Swedish goalie is one win shy of tying Mike Richters franchise record of 301. He caught Rangers great Ed Giacomin for the club mark in shutouts. Lundqvist was serenaded by the crowd with chants of "Hen-rik, Hen-rik" in the games final minute. Brian Boyle scored in the first period and Chris Kreider had two third-period goals for the Rangers, who won their second straight after an 0-2-1 skid and moved into second place in the Metropolitan Division -- one point ahead of Philadelphia. Derek Stepan and Ryan McDonagh both assisted on each of Kreiders goals. Jimmy Howard stopped 28 shots for the Red Wings, who have lost three of four (1-2-1). Kreider provided all the insurance Lundqvist would need for his milestone win. He made it 2-0 just 14 seconds into the third by deflecting in McDonaghs shot from the left point and pushed the lead to three goals at 12:12, beating Howard with a shot as he drove down the left wing for his 16th this season. The Rangers took a 1-0 lead in the first period after the Red Wings seemingly made a good defensive play. New York rushed the puck up ice, and defenceman John Moore wound up for a shot inside the blue line that was blocked by Detroit forwaard Daniel Alfredsson.dddddddddddd But the puck deflected into the slot to Boyle, who spun and sent a drive that beat Howard at 5:14 for his fifth goal of the season. It was New Yorks first traditional 5-on-5 goal in three games. Both Rangers tallies in Wednesdays loss to Toronto were short-handed goals by defenceman McDonagh. In Fridays victory at Tampa Bay, McDonagh scored another short-handed goal, Derek Stepan connected on a power play, Rick Nash scored during 4-on-4 play, and Carl Hagelin sealed the win with an empty-netter. The second period didnt provide much as the teams combined for just 16 shots -- nine by the Rangers, who had a 21-18 edge through 40 minutes. New York put on late pressure but was held at bay by Howard through a flurry in the crease in the final seconds of the period. Lundqvist was sharp throughout, even shaking it off when he was covered by the net, which was tipped over from behind when Red Wings forward Justin Abdelkader checked Rangers defenceman Anton Stralman into the back of the cage late in the second. The Red Wings did little with two power plays in the middle frame and recorded only three total shots in their first three advantages of the game. NOTES: Lundqvist beat Detroit 1-0 on Jan. 16. ... Red Wings C Pavel Datsyuk missed his fourth straight game as he continues to rest his ailing left knee. ... Detroit has lost four straight to the Rangers, dating to Feb. 7, 2011. ... Howard was called for roughing against Benoit Pouliot in the third period. 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