Diamondbacks shut out by Pirates

PITTSBURGH (AP) -- After two weeks in which they had the majors' best offense, the Arizona Diamondbacks aren't going to get too down by a couple of poor games.
Arizona managed only two baserunners -- both hits by Paul Goldschmidt -- against Erik Bedard and two relievers in a 4-0 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates on Monday night.
It was the second time in three games the Diamondbacks were shut out. This followed a stretch in which they led the majors in runs since July 18 with 106.
Outfielder Chris Young said he wasn't concerned.
"It's just a few games," Young said. "You just have games where you put up a lot of runs, and some games you don't. There are going to be some pitchers' duels, and today was one of those games. We have to do a little better and be a little more consistent in putting runs on the board."
Bedard allowed two hits and did not walk a batter over seven innings, striking out five. He retired 17 in a row until his final batter, Goldschmidt, singled. Goldschmidt was thrown out at second base trying to stretch the hit by left fielder Starling Marte to end the seventh.
Jason Grilli and Chad Qualls each worked a perfect inning to preserve the shutout, the Pirates' sixth this season and second in the past week.
Before the three game losing streak, Arizona had won four in a row, six of seven and 11 of 14.
"We're playing good. A couple games slipped up and got us, but we'll be fine," rookie starter Wade Miley said.
Bedard (6-12) leads the majors in losses but lowered his home ERA to 2.38. Pittsburgh has won 23 of its past 29 games at PNC Park.
"I don't know; he just stayed off the barrel somehow," Young said. "I thought we had a pretty good approach with him; we just couldn't get anything going."
Andrew McCutchen had two hits and scored two runs for the Pirates, who began the day 4 games behind Cincinnati in the National League Central.
"We broke out an old fashioned baseball game today: pitching and defense," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "We had one run, and we added on a little bit late."
Miley did not allow an earned run over six innings for Arizona, which has lost three in a row. The Diamondbacks committed three errors.
"They outplayed us, they out-executed us," Arizona manager Kirk Gibson said. "It hurts, but we've got to find a way to get back on a good run."
Goldschmidt doubled leading off the second and ended the seventh with a single before being thrown out at second. Bedard, who had lost six of his previous seven decisions, struck out Miguel Montero with Goldschmidt at third and one out in the second.
McCutchen manufactured a run with his speed -- and some shoddy Diamondbacks defense -- in the fourth. He led off with a single to center, but he took off for second when Young bobbled the ball.
McCutchen might have been thrown out at second but Young's throw was not handled cleanly by shortstop Willie Bloomquist. The ball got away from Bloomquist, and McCutchen took off for third.
Two Arizona errors were charged on the play, and Gaby Sanchez followed with an RBI groundout.
"I started it off with no outs, and we were able to play some small ball and get that one run in," McCutchen said. "That's something that we really needed."
It remained 1-0 until the Pirates broke the game open with a three-run eighth by way of four consecutive singles and Rod Barajas' sacrifice fly. Hits by Neil Walker and Travis Snider scored McCutchen and Sanchez.
Miley (12-7) allowed six hits and a walk and had two strikeouts.
"I felt all right," Miley said. "I kind of got into some trouble and had to battle a little bit... I wasn't executing, but we were able to keep it to one, so it wasn't bad."
NOTES: The Diamondbacks claimed C Wil Nieves off waivers from the Colorado Rockies and placed C Henry Blanco on the disabled list before the game. The 40-year-old Blanco has a sprained left thumb and was traveling back to Arizona for an MRI to see if he had a ligament tear. ... McCutchen is hitting .480 (37 for 77) in his past 21 home games and is hitting a majors-best .443 against left-handed pitchers. ... Pittsburgh improved to 11-4 at home against a left-handed starter. ... The second of three left-handers Arizona will start against Pittsburgh during this series, Patrick Corbin (3-4, 3.60) is scheduled to pitch Tuesday. RHP Jeff Karstens (4-2, 3.70) will attempt to win his fifth consecutive decision for the Pirates.