The Pittsburgh Pirates hold on to win a thriller against the San Francicso Giants...

[madinmaryland]

AN FRANCISCO(AP) Garrett Jones started the game as Pittsburgh's offensive star. He ended it as an unlikely defensive hero.

Jones had three hits and two RBIs, including the go-ahead run in the eighth inning, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 6-5 on 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.''

Read More: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/baseball/mlb/gameflash/2010/04/13/30373_recap.html

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