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Pirates rally past Dodgers 6-5, delay clincher

Los Angeles Dodgers outfielders Jason Repko, left, Andre Ethier (16) and Matt Kermp celebrate a 8-4 win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game in Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Los Angeles Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton, right, celebrates getting the final out of the ninth inning with catcher Brad Ausmus to preserve an 8-4 Dodgers win over the Pittsburgh Pirates in a baseball game in Pittsburgh, Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Los Angeles Dodgers Jim Thome drives in two runs with a single in the eighth inning of a baseballgame against the Pittsburgh Pirates in Pittsburgh Saturday, Sept. 26, 2009.(AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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Pittsburgh Pirates' Andrew McCutchen celebrates after hitting a triple off Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Ronald Delisario in seventh inning of a baseball game in Pittsburgh Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009. (AP Photo/Gene J. Puskar)

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By ALAN ROBINSON, The Associated Press Updated 6:21 PM Sunday, September 27, 2009

PITTSBURGH — Right fielder Andre Ethier misplayed Lastings Milledge's two-run single for an error that allowed the winning run to score, and the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for four in the ninth inning to beat the Dodgers 6-5 and prevent Los Angeles from clinching the NL West title Sunday.

The Dodgers went ahead 5-2 by scoring three runs in the top of the ninth against Matt Capps (4-8), only to let the Pirates stage their best rally of a dismal season in which they are four losses from losing 100 games.

Los Angeles went into the game with a magic number of two for clinching the division crown, but it essentially was one because the Rockies would lose any tiebreaker with the Dodgers.

Manager Joe Torre said the Dodgers would celebrate as champions if they won, regardless of what happened in the Cardinals-Rockies game later in the day.

Instead, the Pirates pulled off an improbable rally to win for only the fifth time in 29 games.

Dodgers closer Jonathan Broxton (7-2) gave up singles to pinch-hitters Delwyn Young and Brandon Moss before Andrew McCutchen grounded into a force out. Andy LaRoche's single scored Young, making it 5-3, and McCutchen moved to third on the play when shortstop Rafael Furcal threw wildly for an error.

After Garrett Jones was intentionally walked for the third time, Milledge — who stranded five runners while going hitless inhis first four at-bats — lined a two-run single into right field to tie it. Jones kept running on the play and scored when the ball went under Ethier's glove and rolled to the wall.

Los Angeles went into the seventh trailing Pirates rookie Daniel McCutchen 2-1, but shortstop Luis Cruz fumbled a potential double-play grounder by pinch-hitter Jim Thome and settled for getting one out as James Loney scored the tying run.

The Pirates brought in their closer, Capps, to pitch the ninth, but he immediately gave up singles to Loney, Ronnie Belliard and Russell Martin to put the Dodgers ahead.

After Orlando Hudson bunted the runners up and pinch-hitter Manny Ramirez was intentionally walked, second baseman Brian Bixler threw late to the plate trying to get pinch-runner Juan Castro on Furcal's grounder. Robinzon Diaz's passed ball allowed the third run of the inning to score.

The lead didn't stand up as Broxton blew his sixth save in 42 opportunities.

Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw made his first start since Sept. 4, three days before separating his right shoulder while shagging fly balls in Dodger Stadium, but left trailing 2-1 after four innings. He threw 77 pitches, almost exactly the number Torre wanted, but his wildness hurt him as he allowed two runs in the third.

After Bixler and McCutchen singled, Kershaw's wild pitch scored Bixler from third, and another wild pitch sent McCutchen to third. LaRoche followed with a run-scoring double.

Kershaw gave up four hits, struck out four and walked one but is winless in his last 10 starts while receiving only 11 runs of support.

The Dodgers scored in the third on Furcal's RBI single, which extended his hitting streak to 11 games, but Daniel McCutchen made the best of his five starts. He gave up five hits and two runs over six-plus innings.

NOTES: Torre didn't start Ramirez ina day game that followed a night game. ... Despite getting two hits, Bixler has 25 strikeouts in 41 at-bats.

(Pirates 6, Dodgers 5; SUBS 6th graf to correct to Young, sted Bixler)

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September 27, 2009 10:17 PM EDT

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