Snyder’s home run sinks Pirates, 4-3

The Bucs rallied from a 3-0 deficit to tie the score, only to lose in the ninth inning.

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Chris Snyder hit a home run to lead off the ninth inning, giving the Arizona Diamondbacks a 4-3 victory over the Pittsburgh Pirates on Saturday night.

The Arizona catcher hit a 1-1 pitch into the left-field seats off reliever John Grabow (4-2) for his sixth home run of the season. The Diamondbacks, who blew a 3-0 lead, beat Pittsburgh for the second straight night.

Snyder’s home run made a winner of Juan Cruz (2-0), who pitched an inning of scoreless relief. Brandon Lyon allowed two baserunners in the ninth inning, but picked up his 14th save.

The Diamondbacks scored three runs in the first off Pirates starter Tom Gorzelanny. Chris Burke, who was hitting leadoff for the first time this season, drew a walk and was sacrificed to second by Stephen Drew. Orlando Hudson followed with a four-pitch walk.

Conor Jackson singled to score Burke, Chris Young’s double brought home Hudson, and Mark Reynolds hit a sacrifice fly that scored Jackson.

After the rocky start, Gorzelanny shut down Arizona the rest of the way. The left-hander went seven innings for his longest outing since May 10 and allowed three runs and five hits. He struck out one and walked three.

The Pirates made it 3-1 in the third against Arizona starter Dan Haren. Adam LaRoche started the inning with a walk and, with two outs, scored from second on Nate McLouth’s double.

Jason Bay led off the fourth with a home run to make it 3-2. Bay, who finished 1-for-4, has now hit safely in 16 of his past 18 games. His blast came a half-inning after he made a running catch near the left-field wall to rob Snyder of a possible run-scoring hit with Young on second base.

McLouth hit a home run into the right-field seats with two outs in the fifth to tie the game at 3. His 14th homer of the season set a career high. McLouth went 2-for-4.

Haren pitched seven innings and allowed three runs and five hits. The right-hander struck out six and walked one.

Arizona wasted a leadoff double from Haren in the seventh. Haren moved to third on a ground ball to the shortstop by Burke. But Drew popped out to first base, and Hudson grounded out to third to end the inning.

Pittsburgh also had a scoring chance in the seventh. LaRoche doubled with one out. But Jack Wilson struck out, and pinch-hitter Xavier Nady flied out to left field.

Young had a pair of doubles for Arizona.