McCutchen’s single in ninth leads Pirates to comeback win over Indians, Lee 3-2

Pirates rally to beat Indians in ninth

PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen hit a game-ending bloop single to score Jack Wilson and give the Pittsburgh Pirates a come-from-behind 3-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians on Thursday night.

McCutchen, a top prospect recalled when the Pirates traded All-star Nate McLouth June 4, singled to left off Matt Herges (2-1) with runners on first and third and no outs in the ninth.

Wilson, who was 3 for 3 with a walk, had stole third, only his second steal of the season for the Pirates, who has taken two straight from the Indians after snapping a five-game losing streak.

McCutchen had a hand in all three of Pittsburgh’s runs — two RBIs and a run scored — in extending his hitting streak to 13 games.

Ross Ohlendorf allowed two runs on five hits and three walks in seven innings to match Indians ace Cliff Lee.

Matt Capps (1-3) earned the win by retiring the side in the top of the ninth.

Victor Martinez went 2 for 3 with a home run and scored twice for the Indians, who have lost eight of nine.

Martinez entered the game hitless in his past 18 at-bats but reached base three times. He was 3 for 42 against the National League this season but singled, walked and led off the sixth with his 13th home run, to center on a 3-1 pitch.

Shin-soo Choo’s two-out double in the third inning drove in Martinez. Choo had two hits.

The Pirates trailed 2-0 and had only two hits — both by Wilson — through five innings against Lee but scratched out a run in the sixth.

McCutchen — who leads all rookies in June for hits and RBIs despite not being recalled until June 4 — led off with a double down the left-field line.

The speedster, who has the longest hitting streak by a rookie this season and has a hit in 18 of 20 career games, moved to third on a groundout and scored on Freddy Sanchez’s sacrifice fly.

In the seventh, Lee walked McCutchen with the bases loaded — fighting back from an 0-2 count and fouling off two pitches. Lee walked three in the inning, the only three of the game for Lee.

Lee was charged with two runs on four hits. He has allowed only 10 runs in 37 innings this month.

John Grabow came on in the eighth and walked the bases loaded — and allowed a flyball to the wall by Martinez that left-fielder Nyjer Morgan leaped up to catch.

A similar situation played itself out in the bottom of the inning, when Joe Smith and Rafael Perez walked three Pirates before Perez got Jason Jaramillo to ground into an inning-ending double play.

NOTES: Indians OF Grady Sizemore was not in the lineup two days after coming off the disabled list. Wedge had said Sizemore would be given days off in an effort to ease him back into action. … RHP Fausto Carmona made his first start for Class A Lake County since being optioned to the minors by the Indians June 5. Carmona won 19 games in 2007 but struggled last season and was 2-6 with a 7.42 ERA this season. … Pirates manager John Russell was ejected in the sixth for arguing with home plate umpire Jerry Lane, his second career ejection.