Rockies turn to Moyer in opener with Pirates

Record-setting southpaw Jamie Moyer makes his first start since becoming the oldest pitcher to win a major league game as the Colorado Rockies visit PNC Park to open a three-game series with the Pittsburgh Pirates.

Twenty-six years after winning seven games for the Chicago Cubs in 1986, Moyer tossed seven innings of six-hit ball against San Diego - allowing a pair of unearned runs in a 5-3 defeat of the Padres on April 17.

In doing so, he became the oldest player in major league history to win a game at 49 years, 151 days, breaking the previous record held by Jack Quinn, who was 49 years, 70 days old when he won Sept. 13, 1932, for the Brooklyn Dodgers.

"His interest level wasn't to come here and just win one game," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "He's interested in doing a lot more over the course of a six-month season."

It was Moyer's first win in three starts for the Rockies, whom he joined as a free agent in January after not pitching in the majors since 2010 with the Philadelphia Phillies.

In his initial two outings, he gave up 13 hits and eight runs in 10 2/3 innings while losing to Houston and San Francisco.

Lifetime against Pittsburgh, he's 5-7 in 16 appearances with a 4.97 earned run average.

For the Pirates, a relative youngster, 31-year-old righty Kevin Correia, makes his third start of the season after two strong outings.

The San Diego native has given up just two runs in 12 innings on seven hits while getting a no-decision and a win at Los Angeles and San Francisco.

The Pirates lost to the Dodgers but beat the Giants and have scored only five runs in Correia's two outings - compared to the Cardinals' barrage in Westbrook's outings.

He is 3-5 in 30 career games against Colorado.

On Sunday in Milwaukee, Michael Cuddyer cracked the go-ahead two-run double in the top of the eighth inning and the Rockies slipped past the Milwaukee Brewers, 4-1, in the finale of a three-game series at Miller Park.

Jason Giambi and Carlos Gonzalez each knocked in a run, while Troy Tulowitzki had two hits and a run scored for the Rockies, who have won four of their last five contests.

Jeremy Guthrie (2-1) gave up just one run on three hits and three walks while striking out two over seven innings of work. Rex Brothers and Matt Belisle combined for a scoreless eighth and Rafael Betancourt worked a 1-2-3 ninth to collect his fifth save of the season.

"It was a great series to win, especially two out of three against two of the premier relievers in our league," Rockies manager Jim Tracy said. "Guthrie gave us seven great innings and it goes without saying that the eighth was the key to the game. This is a significant accomplishment for our ball club."

In Pittsburgh, Kyle Lohse tossed seven superb innings on Sunday and the St. Louis Cardinals topped the Pirates, 5-1, in the finale of a three-game set.

Casey McGehee drove in the only run of the day for the Pirates, who got seven innings from starter Erik Bedard in defeat.

Bedard (0-4) gave up three runs - two earned - on seven hits and four walks while fanning seven.

"I thought it was a very blue-collar effort from Erik today," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "He battled and gave us seven, but was maybe just a tick off today."

The Rockies have won five of their past seven in Pittsburgh.