Photo credit: @SFGiants

By Jeremy Kahn

Once again, it was a homecoming for a former Pittsburgh Pirates All-Star, but this is one game that Tony Watson will want to forget.

Watson, who played for the Pirates for six seasons got into a jam, as he loaded the bases and then the Pirates took the lead for good, when Watson hit former teammate Jordy Mercer to score Josh Bell from third base and the Pirates defeated the Giants 6-5 at PNC Park.

The win went to Pirates closer Felipe Vasquez, who picked up his second win of the season, as he got the final five outs of the game.

Bell picked up two hits on the night, and his base running helped the Pirates score the winning run. David Freese hit an infield single that Evan Longoria fielded, and Bell was able to elude Longoria’s tag to get back to third base.

Andrew McCutchen went 2-for-5, as he extended his hitting streak to 11 games and streak of getting on base up to 22 games.

Longoria and Alen Hanson hit home runs for the Giants, who have lost six games in a row thru the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

Jeff Samardzija went 5.2 innings, allowing five runs and six hits, as he saw his earned run average increase to a whopping 6.94 on the season. Samardzija also gave up two home runs to Francisco Cervelli and Gregory Polanco.

After Cervelli gave the Pirates a 5-3 lead in the bottom of the sixth inning, as his laser shot landed in the front row of the right-center field seats.

Brandon Belt cut the Pirates lead in half, as he singled in McCutchen in the top of the seventh inning.

Austin Jackson tied up the game in the top of the eighth inning, as he doubled to left to score Hanson, who is day-to-day with a tight left hamstring.

Pirates starter Chad Kuhl pitched six innings, allowing three runs and six hits. Kuhl also struck out six and walked four.

Both Samardzija and Kuhl did not fare in the decision for either teams.

NOTES: Derek Holland looks to stop the teams’ losing streak, and a streak of his own, as Holland last won on the road on May 21, 2017, while with the Chicago White Sox. Ivan Nova looks to help the Pirates pick up the sweep.

Hunter Pence looks to be improving, and he could possibly be activated during the Giants’ seven-game home stand that begins on Monday night against the Cincinnati Reds.

UP NEXT: The Giants-Pirates series concludes with a series finale on Sunday at 10:35 am PT.