Wood comes up big in Bucs 4-2 win

Former first-rounder Brandon Wood never lived up to the hype for the Angels, but received fresh start when the Pirates claimed him off waivers on Friday.

Wood may have flied to right in his first at-bat as a Bucco, but came through with a two-run double in the 4^th, for the go-ahead run in the 4-2 win agasint the Washington Nationals on Monday night at PNC Park.

The double came after a short rain delay. With Neil Walker on Third base, and Steve Pearce was on first when Wood doubled to right center field. Jose Tabata scored on an error by right fielder Jayson Werth before the delay. Chris Snyder singled for the fourth run of the inning, and give the Pirates a 4-2 lead.

Left-hander Paul Maholm started for the Pirates and after allowing two runs to score on three hits in the 1^st, he settled in and was solid. He allowed just one more hit –in the third inning– and put up zeros the rest of his outing.

Maholm was charged with two runs on four hits with two walks and eight strikeouts over seven innings (99 pitches). He picked up his first win on the season.

Righty John Lannan ran into trouble after the rain delay, giving up the four runs in the 4^th to the Bucs. He allowed four runs on five hits with two walks and three strikeouts over 5.2 innings.

With the win, the Pirates took the series from the Nats and improved to 10-12 on the season.

The Pirates will open up a three game series against the 2010 World Series Champs, the San Francisco Giants. The Giants will send Matt Cain, Madison Bumgarner and Ryan Vogelsong to the mound against the Bucs.