Pirates Finish Sweep in Unusual Fashion

Ryan Doumit hit a game-winning single in the bottom of the ninth inning after the umpires took away what appeared to be a game-winning home run by Jose Castillo and called both teams back onto the field, and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a four-game sweep of the Milwaukee Brewers with a bizarre 4-3 victory Thursday.

The Pirates trailed, 3-2, entering the ninth, but Jeromy Burnitz doubled against Brewers closer Derrick Turnbow (2-2). One batter later, Castillo hit a long drive to right that bounced off the padding atop the right field wall and was first called a home run. It would have been the sixth consecutive game that Castillo had homered.

After conferring, the umpires decided Castillo’s drive did not clear the wall and put him back at second -- after some Pirates had headed to the clubhouse and fireworks were being shot off.

Doumit then worked the count to 3-1 before grounding a ball down the right-field line, scoring Castillo easily and allowing the Pirates to celebrate for a second time.

Arizona 2, Atlanta 1 -- Juan Cruz (3-3) pitched seven shutout innings, and the Diamondbacks ended a 24-inning scoreless streak with two unearned runs in the eighth inning at Atlanta.