Tiring De La Rosa unable to hold lead in Diamondbacks' loss
PITTSBURGH (AP) Pitching for the first time in 10 days, Rubby De La Rosa ran out of gas and cost the Arizona Diamondbacks a potential victory.
David Freese hit a long two-run home run to cap a four-run fifth inning, Sean Rodriguez also homered and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for a 5-4 victory over the Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.
Freese's 451-foot blast into the Pirates' bullpen in center field off De La Rosa (4-5) put the Pirates ahead 5-4. They trailed 4-1 coming into the fifth, but Gregory Polanco hit an RBI double and Starling Marte drove in a run with a groundout.
De La Rosa, pitching for the first time since May 15, was tagged for five runs and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings. He had his last turn in the rotation skipped because of tightness in his groin and triceps.
''He just tired out,'' Diamondbacks manager Chip Hale said. ''Coming off the layoff, we were real cognizant of how many pitches he was going to go. He was going to be right around 100 - it was his game there in the fifth inning. But he hung a slider and Freese has made us pay numerous times this year.''
Freese is 6 for 15 with four doubles and a home run against the Diamondbacks this season.
Freese hit a slider for the home run. Diamondbacks catcher Welington Castillo originally called for a fastball, but De La Rosa was concerned that Freese would be looking for a fastball down and in.
''He just hung it,'' Castillo said.
It turns out Freese wasn't looking for any particularly pitch.
''I'm not that type of hitter,'' Freese said. ''I was just able to stay back on it and put a good swing on it.''
Chris Owings had two doubles for the Diamondbacks while Yasmany Tomas and Rickie Weeks Jr. both had a home run among two hits.
Weeks started in right field, his first appearance at the position in his 13-year career.
Rodriguez, subbing for an ill Josh Harrison at second base, hit a solo homer in the fourth. It was Rodriguez's fifth, one more than he had last season.
Andrew McCutchen added two hits while the Pirates won for the eighth time in 10 games overall and 11th time in their last 14 games against the Diamondbacks.
Jeff Locke (3-3) gave up four runs and seven hits in 6 1/3 innings for his first career victory against the Diamondbacks. He walked one and struck out one.
Mark Melancon worked around Owings' second double with two outs to pitch a scoreless ninth and get his 16th save in 17 opportunities.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Diamondbacks: 2B Jean Segura and SS Nick Ahmed passed concussion tests and were cleared to play after both were hit in the head by pitches Tuesday night. Ahmed went 1 for 4 but Segura, who is hitting a team-best .316, was held out as a precaution as he still felt some dizziness after Tuesday's game.
UMPIRE INJURED
Home plate umpire Chris Guccione left following the first inning after he took a foul tip to the mask off the bat of Freese. Guccione walked off the field under his own power.
First base umpire Sean Barber took over behind the plate. Alfonso Marquez and crew chief Larry Vanover were left to handle the bases.
UP NEXT
Diamondbacks: LHP Patrick Corbin (2-3, 3.99 ERA) will start Thursday in the finale of the three-game series. He has a 2.88 ERA in his last four starts.
Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (5-3, 2.79) has won his last three starts with a 1.29 ERA.