Controversial call at home plate nixes tying run

DENVER (AP) -- Nelson Figueroa threw six strong innings, and

Randall Simon hit a two-run homer as the Pittsburgh Pirates beat

the Colorado Rockies 5-3 Sunday.

Figueroa (1-0), called up from Triple-A Colorado Springs earlier

in the day, allowed two runs and seven hits. He had been 0-6 in

nine starts since his last major league win April 30, 2002, when he

beat Atlanta with Milwaukee.

Mike Lincoln pitched the ninth, allowing a solo homer to Charles

Johnson before finishing for his fifth save in seven chances.

Simon hit his second home run of the series. The Pirates took

two of three from the Rockies.

Shawn Chacon (11-7) allowed three runs -- two earned -- and five

hits in seven innings, losing his fourth straight decision in five

starts. He hasn't won since June 23 at San Diego.

Figueroa retired his first five batters before Rene Reyes

homered into the Colorado bullpen for his first career home run.

Ronnie Belliard homered to left in the third to make it 2-0.

The Pirates tied it in the fourth on Simon's two-run shot.

Chacon walked Matt Stairs with two outs and Simon hit his 10th

homer to right.

Pittsburgh took a 3-2 lead with an unearned run in the seventh.

Jose Hernandez hit a one-out single and stole second. Chacon

appeared to be out of the jam when Humberto Cota struck out and

Abraham Nunez hit a routine groundball to shortstop -- but Juan

Uribe threw wildly past first for an error and Hernandez scored.

Pittsburgh's defense saved a run in the seventh. Pinch-hitter

Garrett Atkins singled and, with two outs, pinch-hitter Larry

Walker doubled to center.

Tike Redman made a sliding stop and threw to shortstop Jack

Wilson, who relayed the ball home from short center. Atkins went

past the plate on a fadeaway slide, but Cota ran him down and

tagged him out.

Redman hit an RBI triple and scored on a squeeze bunt by Wilson

in the ninth.Game notes
The Pirates demoted reliever Duaner Sanchez to Triple-A

Nashville and designated outfielder Adam Hyzdu for assignment. ...

Figueroa is the ninth pitcher to start a game for Pittsburgh this

season. ... The Pirates won the season series 6-3. ... Reyes had

six home runs in 370 at-bats at Colorado Springs. ... Colorado's

Bobby Estalella has fanned 55 times in 142 at-bats. ... Plate

umpire Brian O'Nora ejected Rockies manager Clint Hurdle for

arguing the call at home on Atkins. It was Hurdle's fourth ejection

this year.