Pirates Top Blue Jays, 6-2
TORNONTO (KDKA/AP) -- The Pirates pulled off their first interleague road series win since 2003, beating the Toronto Blue Jays, 6-2.
Jeff Karstens (6-4, 2.65 ERA) held Toronto to just two runs and five hits over seven innings pitched.
Solo home runs by J.P Arencibia and Yunel Escobar were the only blemishes for Karstens, who has allowed five home runs in his past two starts, all solo. The right-hander has given up 16 homers this season; all but one have been solo shots.
The Pirates (41-39) are now two games above .500.
Blue Jays left-hander Brett Cecil (1-3) took the loss in his first major league start since April 20, allowing a season-high six runs and eight hits in 6 1-3 innings. He walked three, one intentional, and struck out six.
Cecil was recalled from Triple-A Las Vegas on Monday after going 8-2 with a 5.26 ERA in 12 starts while building up his arm strength.
The Pirates scored in the first when Alex Presley led off with a triple and scored on Andrew McCutchen's grounder to third.
Cecil didn't allow another hit until the fifth, but the Pirates turned it into a run. Josh Harrison led off with a double to center, advanced to third on Michael McKenry's sacrifice and scored on Presley's sacrifice fly.
Arencibia's 12th homer and Escobar's ninth, tied it at 2-2 in the bottom half, but the Pirates reclaimed the lead with a three-run sixth.
Lyle Overbay opened the inning with a fly ball to shallow left that fell between third baseman Jose Bautista and outfielder Corey Patterson. Overbay went to second on the play, then advanced to third on Patterson's throwing error. Ronny Cedeno drove in Overbay with a double to right, then came around on Wood's homer to left, his third.
Pittsburgh made it 6-2 in the seventh. McCutchen chased Cecil with a double and Octavio Dotel gave up an RBI single to Matt Diaz.
