After a day off yesterday, Kubel got off to a quick start in the top of the first inning by blasting a two-run home run to right field, scoring Aaron Hill and putting Arizona on top 2-0.

Pittsburgh responded in the bottom of the second inning when catcher Michael McKenry singled to left field, scoring Gaby Sanchez, and cutting Arizona’s lead to 2-1. Neil Walker would score in the next at bat off of a sacrifice fly by Jordy Mercer to tie the score up at 2-2. Starling Marte would follow with a single to right field to score McKenry and put the Bucs on top 3-2.

August 9, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Joe Saunders (34) pitches against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the third inning at PNC Park. The Arizona Diamondbacks won 6-3. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Wil Nieves, Arizona’s newest acquisition after the loss of Henry Blanco to injury, made his presence known in the top of the sixth inning with a two-run home run to left field to score Chris Johnson and put Arizona back on top 4-3.

Kubel would continue his big night in the top of the seventh inning with another two-run home run to left-center field to score Hill and put the game out of reach at 6-3.

Arizona’s starter Joe Saunders threw a strong game, allowing seven hits and only two earned runs through seven innings pitched. Closer JJ Putz would come into the game to close the door in the bottom of the ninth and pick up his 21st save of the season.

With the victory, Arizona completed a tough 10-game road trip through Los Angeles, Philadelphia, and Pittsburgh with a 6-4 record and sit only four games back of division-leading San Francisco Giants. Arizona heads home tonight to open up a three-game home stand agains the N.L. East leading Washington Nationals over the weekend. Arizona starter Trevor Cahill will take the mound against Washington ace Stephen Strasburg in the series opener tomorrow evening.

Both teams struck quickly in the first inning, with Arizona third baseman Chris Johnson leading the charge in the top of the first inning with an RBI single to right field, scoring Stephen Drew, and putting the D-backs up 1-0. Paul Goldschmidt would follow in the next at bat with a sacrifice fly to right field to score Willie Bloomquist from third and extending Arizona’s lead to 2-0.

Pittsburgh would respond quickly in the bottom half of the inning with a three-run homer by Neil Walker, to put the Bucs on top 3-2.

August 8, 2012; Pittsburgh, PA, USA; Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Ian Kennedy (31) throws a pitch against the Pittsburgh Pirates during the first inning at PNC Park. Mandatory Credit: Charles LeClaire-US PRESSWIRE

Starling Marte would add another run to the board with a solo homer in the bottom half of the third inning to put Pittsburgh on top 4-2.

The D-backs would brew an offensive strike in the top of the fifth inning when Wille Bloomquist doubled to center field to score Gerardo Parra from second, and cut the lead to 4-3. Drew would score from third on an error by Pittsburgh third baseman Pedro Alvarez in the next at bat to tie the score up at 4-4.

Unfortunately for Arizona, the Bucs would strike back in the bottom half of the inning when Walker doubled to deep center field with the bases loaded to score Travis Snider from third and Andrew McCutchen from second, and put Pittsburgh back on top 6-4.

Pittsburgh shortstop Jordy Mercer would add a solo home run in the bottom of the sixth inning to extend their lead to 7-4.

Arizona would fight back in the top of the seventh with a sacrifice fly by Goldschmidt and an RBI single by Bloomquist would cut the Pittsburgh lead to 7-6. In the end it wouldn’t be enough to come back and Pittsburgh would bring in closer John Hanrahan in the top of the ninth to shut the door.

After four straight victories, Arizona starter Ian Kennedy brought less than his A-game tonight, allowing eight hits, two home runs and five earned runs through four innings pitched. The dagger for Kennedy was his inability to maintain momentum the half inning after his offense drove in some runs. The Arizona offense got him a quick 2-run lead in the top of the first inning, and he gave up three runs in the bottom of the inning. Again in the top of the fifth, his offense collected 2 more runs, and he was able to give up two runs in the bottom of the inning and left with the bases loaded.

Arizona sends lefty Joe Saunders to the mound tomorrow for the finale of the four game series with Pittsburgh.