Gerrit Cole strikes out season-best 9 as Pirates beat Giants 4-3

SAN FRANCISCO - Gerrit Cole struck out a season-best nine to win his third straight start, Neil Walker hit a tiebreaking two-run double in the fifth after a pair of called strikeouts, and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the San Francisco Giants 4-3 on Monday night.

Andrew McCutchen had two likely hits stolen by great plays in the outfield as he settled for sacrifice flies against Ryan Vogelsong (4-3) instead.

Cole (8-2) struck out the side in order in the fourth, then worked a 1-2-3 fifth before loading the bases with none out in the sixth. He got out of it with a strikeout of Brandon Belt and inducing Brandon Crawford’s inning-ending double play.

Belt’s two-run, two-out double in the first put San Francisco ahead early in a rematch of the NL one-game wild card won 8-0 by the eventual champion Giants last October at PNC Park.

A fan dressed in a Pirates Barry Bonds jersey was called for interference and removed from the stands in the eighth after he leaned over the low fence in right field and used his glove to prevent Pittsburgh’s Gregory Polanco from catching Buster Posey’s ball in foul territory.

After a review of 2 minutes, 17 seconds, Polanco was credited for making the out.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle tweaked his lineup to use lefty hitters high in the order with Polanco batting second and Walker cleanup. Walker came in 7 for 16 against Vogelsong and delivered in the fifth, leading Pittsburgh to its ninth win in 11 games.

Center fielder Angel Pagan made running, diving backhanded catch on McCutchen’s third-inning drive. Pagan hopped up and quickly released the throw. Right fielder Hunter Pence robbed McCutchen in the fifth, prompting the slugger to raise his hands in a signal of disbelief.

Cole, making his first career start in San Francisco, allowed five hits and no earned runs to improve to 3-0 against the Giants. The right-hander is 12-2 with 120 strikeouts in 16 starts since Sept. 7 last year - the most wins in the majors in that stretch.

Nori Aoki scored on Pence’s groundout in the eighth, then Mark Melancon finished for his 14th save.

The Giants, coming off a 21-9 May, have their first three-game losing streak since dropping a season-high eight in a row from April 10-17.

Vogelsong lost for the first time in six starts since a defeat to Los Angeles on April 29 at Dodger Stadium, and the Giants had won each of the right-hander’s last five and six of seven.

He went 4-0 with a 1.14 ERA in five May starts.

Pittsburgh took two of three games in both series the teams played in 2014. The Giants have lost 11 of 16 overall to the Pirates.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: Jeff Locke will make his Saturday start at Atlanta as planned despite only one win in his last eight outings - and only once reaching seven innings during that span. Locke will throw two side sessions beforehand. “Ink,” manager Clint Hurdle said when asked if he had penciled in the lefty. “He’s getting the ball. He wants consistency more than anybody.”

Giants: RHP Jake Peavy played catch to test his strained lower back and said he felt good. The plan is to throw a bullpen Tuesday. ... RHP Matt Cain (strained flexor tendon in elbow) pitched a bullpen.

UP NEXT

Pirates: RHP A.J. Burnett (5-1) looks to win his sixth straight start. He is winless in his past two outings facing San Francisco but 6-3 overall. He also is 3-0 with a 1.89 ERA in six road starts this season.

Giants: RHP Chris Heston (5-3), who has pitched well in place of the injured Cain, tries to win his third straight start and fourth consecutive decision.