Bucs allow four runs in ninth in loss to Rox

PITTSBURGH — A pair of Pirates errors opened the door for the Rockies’ four-run ninth inning in a 5-1 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday at PNC Park.

In the ninth inning, Colorado broke open a 1-1 game after a two-out throwing error by catcher Francisco Cervelli allowed Gerardo Parra to reach first. Closer Mark Melancon walked another batter and a wild pitch put runners on second and third for Tony Wolters, who singled on a grounder to first, scoring Parra. As Jaso stumbled and struggled to grip the ball, Daniel Descalso scored an unearned run to make it 3-1.

Melancon was pulled in favor of Jared Hughes, and Cristhian Adames hit his first Major League home run to give the Rockies a four-run lead.

The Rockies took a 1-0 lead in the first on Mark Reynolds’ RBI double, and the Pirates tied it in the fourth on Jordy Mercer’s RBI single, scoring Matt Joyce. Joyce collided with Wolters at home, but scored.

A few plays earlier in the fourth, Pirates third baseman Jung Ho Kang also collided with Wolters at the plate, but was called out. As Joyce reached on a fielder’s choice, Kang tried to reach the plate by sticking out his left hand to graze the plate, but got Wolters’ legs instead. The Pirates challenged for an illegal home-plate collision, but the call stood. Kang later left the game with discomfort in his left hand.

In one of his best performances this year, Jonathon Niese limited the Rockies to four hits and one earned run in seven innings. Though giving …

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