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Bullpen Blows Another Great Performance By D-backs Starter, Pirate Sweep Series

Pittsburgh, PA (Sports Network) - Neil Walker's two-run home run in the eighth inning lifted the Pittsburgh Pirates to a three-game sweep of Arizona with a 4-3 win.

Andrew McCutchen hit a solo home run while Jose Tabata drove in one and scored once for the Pirates, who have won three straight on the heels of a four-game losing streak. Zach Duke was charged with just three runs on six hits with a walk and three strikeouts over 7 1/3 innings while Joel Hanrahan (4-1) got the win for recording the final two outs of the eighth.

Ryan Roberts hit a solo home run while Adam LaRoche and John Hester each drove in one for theDiamondbacks, who have dropped eight of their last 10. Dan Hudson was solid over 6 1/3 innings as he gave up just one run on three hits with two walks and six strikeouts while Aaron Heilman (5-8) was tagged with the loss.

Trailing by two runs in the eighth, the Pirates surged ahead. With men on first and third and one out, Tabata hit into a fielder's choice that plated a run. Walker followed with a shot over the center field wall for a 4-3 lead.

Evan Meek set Arizona down in order in the ninth to pick up his third save of the season.

McCutchen's leadoff home run in the first staked the Pirates to a 1-0 lead.

Arizona took the lead in the fourth. Chris Young led off with a walk, moved to second on Mark Reynolds' groundout and crossed the plate on a double from LaRoche. After Tony Abreu flied out, Hester punched a double to left for a 2-1 lead.

After giving up a leadoff single in the second, Hudson set down the next 13 batters in order before Tabata doubled with one out in the sixth. Hudson, though, set down the next two Pirates to maintain the one-run lead.

Hudson gave up a one-out walk to John Bowker in the seventh, but Sam Demel took the mound in relief and got Brandon Moss to hit into an inning-ending double play.

Arizona got a solo homer from Roberts in the eighth for a 3-1 lead.

Pittsburgh hosts St. Louis for three games starting Tuesday...Arizona returns home to face Colorado for three games beginning Tuesday...Pittsburgh took four of six from Arizona this season.