Power in a pinch: Joyce making most of role

PITTSBURGH — Besides his struggles last year, Matt Joyce said he enjoyed his time as an Angel. He also enjoyed launching a three-run home run to center field, giving the Pirates a five-run lead vs. his old team on Saturday.

“More so for me to kind of come up in a bigger spot against a lefty and to come up for a bit for our team, and obviously those runs really ended up being huge for us at the end of the game,” Joyce said. “So I think that made it a little bit more special.”

A five-run seventh inning, highlighted by Joyce’s shot off left-hander Greg Mahle’s sidearm fastball, gave the Pirates just enough cushion to withstand a four-run comeback by the Angels in the eighth. Pittsburgh held on to win, 8-7, avoiding a season-high five-game losing …

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