by John Grupp , Pittsburgh Tribune Review

The latest inexplicable offensive shutdown came Tuesday night against Cleveland Indians rookie left-hander David Huff, who entered the night with a 7.09 ERA and left PNC Park looking like Bob Feller.

Huff pitched eight scoreless innings, and a late Pirates' rally fell short in a 5-4 loss in front of the smallest crowd (19,109) to see a Baseball game between the two teams since interleague play began 12 years ago.

"We've had so many games like that," Pirates first baseman Adam LaRoche said. "We will go into seventh, eighth inning with four or five hits, and it's not up against Cy Young pitchers. Not taking anything away from their starter, but we've got to do more damage early."

The Pirates , who trailed, 4-0, after nearly three innings behind starter Ian Snell (2-8), have lost five consecutive to fall a season-worst eight games under .500.

Huff (3-2) allowed four hits, striking out two and walking two to win for the third time in his past four starts. It was reminiscent of Brian Moehler's complete-game victory over the Pirates on May 30 while anchored with an 8.31 ERA.

The Pirates , who failed to advance a runner past second base through eight innings, scored four runs in the bottom of the ninth -- three off reliever Matt Herges ? and loaded the bases on Indians closer Kerry Wood.

But Wood got LaRoche, who had homered to start the rally, to fly out to right for his ninth save, as the Indians snapped a six-game losing streak and avoided another crushing blown lead.

"We made it exciting," Pirates manager John Russell said. "You can't fault the effort."

Snell, coming off won of his best starts of the year, was wild and knocked out of the game with two outs in the third inning. He went to a three-ball count on each of the final six batters he faced and threw 50 pitches in the third inning alone.

"His command just left," Russell said. "He just couldn't find the strike zone."

Snell, coming off three consecutive quality starts, failed to win back-to-back starts for the first time since April 2008 ? a span of 43 starts. In his past 66 starts dating to early 2007, Snell has one two-game winning streak.

"It was one of those games," Snell said. "Everything was going in the dirt, all my breaking balls. ... I'm not making excuses. I'm not going to point the finger. It was my fault."

LaRoche hit a 454-foot homer that bounced into the Allegheny River to open the ninth. Brandon Moss and Jack Wilson hit RBI double to make the score 5-3, and Andrew McCutchen hit a run-scoring single to center to cut the lead to 5-4 and extend his hitting streak to 11 games.

McCutchen stole second, and Nyjer Morgan and Freddy Sanchez walked. But Adam LaRoche flied out on a full-count pitch.

"We were dead the whole game," LaRoche said. "To finally come to life late and score some runs, that was good to see."

Jhonny Peralta homered and drove in three runs, and Grady Sizemore, activated from the disabled list earlier in the day, went 2-for-4 with two RBI and added a dazzling over-the-shoulder catch in center field.

Both teams are in last place in their respective divisions, but the Pirates looked the worst, as they opened a 10-game homestand by losing to the Indians for only the third time in their past 10 meetings in Pittsburgh.

Snell, who had three consecutive quality starts, threw 50 pitches in an excruciating third inning in which he allowed three hits, walked three batters and still retired only two batters.

In the third, Sizemore hit a drive into right field that Steve Pearce misplayed into a two-run triple. Pearce played first base in Triple-A Indianapolis before being recalled last week.

"He just took a bad route to the ball," Russell said. "It cost us at least a run. He hasn't been out there a lot. But he's been out there enough that he should be able to make plays."

Snell walked Victor Martinez, who's hitting .081 in interleague play, and Shin-soo Choo to load the bases, and Peralta hit a two-run single to center for a 4-0 Indians lead.

Peralta added a leadoff homer off Evan Meek in the sixth inning for a 5-0 lead.

"We hit some balls well," Russell said. "They made some real good plays defensively. Ifs and butts. But we had some chances."

How they scored

Indians third inning (Ian Snell pitching)

With none out, Chris Gimenez singled to left. David Huff sacrificed to catcher, Gimenez to second. Jamey Carroll walked. Grady Sizemore tripled to right, Gimenez and Carroll scored. Victor Martinez walked. Shin-Soo Choo walked, Martinez to second. Mark DeRosa struck out. Jhonny Peralta singled to center, Sizemore and Martinez scored.

Indians 4, Pirates 0

Indians sixth (Evan Meek pitching)

With none out, Peralta homered to right (No. 4) on a 1-0 pitch.

Indians 5, Pirates 0

Pirates ninth (Matt Herges pitching)

With none out, Adam LaRoche homered to right (No. 10) on a 1-1 pitch. Robinzon Diaz singled to center. Andy LaRoche grounded to short, Diaz to second. Pinch-hitter Brandon Moss doubled to right, Diaz scored. (Kerry Wood relieved Herges) Jack Wilson doubled to left, Moss scored. Pinch-hitter Delwyn Young struck out. Andrew McCutchen singled to center, Wilson scored.

Indians 5, Pirates 4

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