Giants fall to Pirates 7-4

SAN FRANCISCO - Andrew McCutchen had four hits and drove in two runs, Pedro Alvarez drove in a pair and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the 10th time in 12 games, beating the San Francisco Giants 7-4 Tuesday night.

Jordy Mercer hit his first home run of the season and Neil Walker drove in a run as the Pirates clinched their third series win in the last five played in San Francisco.

Brandon Crawford hit a two-run home run and Buster Posey drove in a pair of runs for the Giants, who lost their fourth in a row.

McCutchen finished a home run short of the cycle, though he improved to .398 (37-for-93) over his past 26 games, with 11 doubles, a triple, five homers, 21 RBIs and 17 runs scored.

Mercer hit his third home run in nine games in San Francisco. He’s only hit more in Wrigley Field (20 games) and PNC Park, both five.

A.J. Burnett (6-1) struggled in his second consecutive start and still managed to win his sixth in a row, allowing four runs and matching his season-high with eight hits.

He walked two and struck out five in winning his first game at AT&T Park in nearly 10 years.

Mark Melancon pitched the ninth for his 15th save in 16 chances.

Chris Heston (5-4) had a three-game winning streak snapped after giving up five runs on seven hits in 3? innings, his shortest outing at home and second shortest of the season. He walked two and struck out two.

Home plate umpire and crew chief Bill Miller initiated the 4 minute, 35 second review of Crawford’s game-tying homer in the third inning. A fan appeared to reach over the railing to make the catch, though replays proved inconclusive.

Hunter Pence went 3-for-5 after getting three hits in his previous 27 at bats.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Pirates: RHP prospect Jameson Taillon, recovering from Tommy John surgery, threw about 40 pitches at extended spring training, a step toward beginning a rehab assignment.

Giants: RHP Matt Cain (flexor tendon strain) is heading to extended spring training in Arizona to throw about 45 pitches, or three innings. “He’s got to be excited about it,” Giants manager Bruce Bochy said. “It’s taken a lot of time to get to this point.”