:format(webp)/cdn.vox-cdn.com/photo_images/6539076/20120417_mjr_su5_040.jpg)
Pittsburgh's best player came through when it mattered most as Andrew McCutchen's RBI single in the top of the ninth lifted the Pirates to a 5-4 victory Tuesday night in front of 19,198 fans at Chase Field.
With the game tied at four and two outs in the ninth inning, Pittsburgh's Alex Presley and Nate McLouth hit back to back singles to set the stage for McCutchen. McCutchen, who was 4-5 on the night, hit a line drive single off Diamondbacks reliever Bryan Shaw.
"He (McCutchen) is an outstanding player," said manager Kirk Gibson. "He's one of the best at what he does, he got pretty good length on pitches away, he got three hits that way today."
The Pirates tagged Diamondbacks ace Ian Kennedy early and often Tuesday night. Pittsburgh scored in the top of the first when Garrett Jones singled home McCutchen. Jones had an RBI double in the third inning and a solo home run in the sixth to give Pittsburgh the lead.
"I wasn't throwing the ball very good, everything was pretty bad," said Kennedy. "I feel pretty disappointed that my team gave me enough runs to win, and I just felt like I let them down."
Trailing by one in the bottom of the eight, John McDonald blasted a solo home run into the left field bleachers to tie the game at four.
"John McDonald has been incredible for us," said Gibson. "He played in Colorado the other night, did a great job, and he brought it again today," said Gibson.
McDonald was forced into action in the fourth inning when center fielder Chris Young was injured when he made a jumping catch into the Chase Field wall.
Young suffered a right shoulder contusion and is listed at day-to-day. "He obviously hit the wall hard," said Gibson. "We will just have to see tomorrow, he is very sore."
Young says that anything not over the fence he will try to get to.
"I knew I had a little bit of a beat on it, I had a chance to get to it, I was trying to make a play and as I was coming down, I hit my shoulder and it tstarted getting tight on me," said Young
The timing could not be worse for Young, as the Diamondbacks center fielder has on an absolute tear at the plate. Coming into action today, Young led the Diamondbacks in batting average (.405), home runs (5) and RBI (13).
The series finale is set for a 12:40 p.m. first pitch tomorrow afternoon at Chase Field. The Diamondbacks will send Daniel Hudson to the mound against Pittsburgh's James McDonald.