Cangelosi and Pirates Beat Dodgers : Pittsburgh Comes From Behind Again for a 7-2 Victory

John Cangelosi went 3 for 5 and hit his first home run of the year Sunday to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to their second straight come-from-behind victory, a 7-2 triumph over the Dodgers at Dodger Stadium.

Cangelosi also scored three runs. He doubled in the third and scored on Terry Harper’s single. Cangelosi singled and scored the go-ahead run on Al Pedrique’s double in the seventh. He led off the eighth with a homer off Brad Havens to give the Pirates a 7-2 lead.

“I was just trying to hit it hard,” Cangelosi said of his homer. “I just hit it up a little, and I guess the ball is a little livelier this year, because it went out.”

Pirates starter Mike Dunne (5-4) pitched 8 innings before John Smiley recorded the final out for his third save. Dunne, who loaded the bases in the ninth, allowed seven hits and two unearned runs, walked one and struck out three.

“The first and last innings were really my only trouble innings,” Dunne said. “I was pumped up a little in the ninth inning when I got the first two outs, but then I was upset that I couldn’t get (Mickey Hatcher’s) single up the middle. After that I gave up another one. Then I just couldn’t throw a strike to (Mariano) Duncan.”

The Pirates scored four runs in the seventh and knocked Dodger starter Rick Honeycutt (2-10) out of the game. Honeycutt extended his franchise-record losing streak to nine games. He has made 11 starts since his last victory on May 12, a 7-1 decision over the Cubs.

“In the seventh, for some reason, I was more concerned about throwing a strike than worrying about the batters,” Honeycutt said.

Asked about his losing streak, Honeycutt said, “Any time you lose a number of games like that you have to be concerned. All you can do is go out there and make the pitches you can. I think I’m a good pitcher.”

Cangelosi singled and scored on Pedrique’s double to give the Pirates a 3-2 lead. Brian Holton relieved Honeycutt, gave up an intentional walk to pinch-hitter Andy Van Slyke and a single to Jim Morrison that loaded the bases.

Mike Diaz hit a bloop single to center, scoring Pedrique and Van Slyke. A throwing error by center fielder John Shelby allowed Morrsion to score, giving the Pirates a 6-2 lead.

The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead in the first on Pedro Guerrero’s two-run single.

The Pirates scored single runs in the third and sixth on Harper’s RBI single and Bobby Bonilla’s RBI double.