PITTSBURGH -- Tony Sanchez knows hes heading back to Triple-A soon enough. The Pittsburgh Pirates backup catcher will be going to Indianapolis when Russell Martins strained left hamstring is healed. Its a reality Sanchez can deal with so long as he makes a contribution while given the chance. At the moment, thats hardly a problem. Sanchez tiebreaking single off Baltimores Ryan Webb in the bottom of the seventh scored Starling Marte to give the Pirates the lead for good in a 9-8 win on Wednesday night. Coming off an embarrassing 9-2 loss on Tuesday and desperately in need of something positive, Sanchez helped Pittsburgh earn a split of the brief two-game interleague set. "Its almost a must win," Sanchez said. "We didnt have a really good road trip. To start off this homestand and go 0-2 it wouldnt have been pretty. Thats huge for me." Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 4 with an RBI and his first two extra-base hits in more than two weeks for Pittsburgh, which won for only the third time in its past nine games. Marte and Ike Davis had three hits and two RBIs apiece for the Pirates. Bryan Morris (4-0) earned the victory after allowing the Orioles to tie the game in the top of the seventh. No biggie. Mark Melancon worked a perfect ninth for his seventh save, one that capped a weird night in which the teams combined for 14 runs in the first two innings while starters Wandy Rodriguez and Chris Tillman took turns getting hit hard. It ended in more orderly fashion after Marte led off the seventh with a bunt single, moved to third on a single by Davis and scored when Sanchez laced a Webb offering into right field. "Its a game-winning hit, hes got a few of them," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said of Sanchez. "Hes got extreme confidence." Nelson Cruz hit his 14th homer of the season and drove in three runs for the Orioles. Nick Markakis, Chris Davis and JJ Hardy had two hits and one RBI apiece but Baltimore left 10 men on base. "You had two early exits from starters and it became a game out of the bullpen and they pushed one across there late," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "But our guys, we had a couple opportunities to score some more, but I cant fault the offence." Pittsburgh began the night eight games under .500 in part because of a struggling starting staff that has hardly looked like the group that led the team to the post-season last fall. Things didnt get much better, but the bullpen briefly recaptured its touch. Vin Mazzaros worked 3 1-3 innings of hitless relief to steady things after Rodriguez made a mess of things during 1 2-3 poor innings. The veteran left-hander has struggled with his command and his conviction all season and did little to convince Hurdle he was ready to turn the corner despite being spotted a 4-0 first-inning lead thanks in part to a two-run triple by Marte. The 35-year-old Rodriguez, in the final year of his contract, promptly gave the big lead away as Cruz led off the second a blistering solo home run and added a two-run double later in the inning to put the Orioles in front. Rodriguezs throwing error on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Tillman meant he was only charged with one earned run for his 1 2-3 innings of work, dropping his ERA from 6.84 to 6.75. Hurdle said it was too early to discuss whether Rodriguez would make his next start, though Rodriguez insists hes healthy after missing time early this season with a left knee injury. Tillman couldnt take advantage of the reprieve. Coming off a shutout win over Kansas City in his previous start, Tillman only managed to get three outs. He failed to retire a batter in the second as the first six Pittsburgh batters reached base. Brad Brach came on in relief to get out of the inning, but not until after the Orioles trailed 8-6. NOTES: Pirates closer Jason Grilli could return as early as Saturday. Grilli has been on the disabled list since sustaining a left oblique strain on April 20. He threw 20 pitches in a simulated game on Tuesday without incident ... The Orioles sent LHP Wei-Yin Chen back to Baltimore ahead of the team on Wednesday as a precaution due to concerns over weather in Pittsburgh. Chen (5-2, 3.69 ERA) is scheduled to start on Thursday against Cleveland. ... The Pirates begin a four-game series with Washington on Thursday. Edinson Volquez (1-4, 4.71) starts for the Pirates against Washingtons Blake Treinen (0-1, 0.77). Jeff Kent Jersey .Just like old times.Only this time, just one got to enjoy a victory.James return to Miami as an opponent was a success — for the Heat, that is. Wade scored 24 of his 31 points in the first half, Luol Deng had 25 points and dogged James defensively all night, and the Heat beat the Cleveland Cavaliers 101-91 in a hyped Christmas matchup Thursday. Houston Astros Gear . "I could have been equipment manager but nooooo" from Lisa on Ice. Season 6, Episode 8. https://www.cheapastros.com/1023o-aaron-...sey-astros.html. - The Pittsburgh Pirates plan on keeping promising left fielder Starling Marte playing alongside National League MVP Andrew McCutchen for years to come. Lance Mccullers Jr. Astros Jersey . Granada defender Diego Mainz barged into the back of Villa to send the Spain striker to the ground inside the area and Costa stepped up to the spot to score his 12th league goal in the 38th minute. Costa showed no effects of the news that his Brazilian citizenship may be revoked after he elected to play for Spains national team, as the forward was a constant threat for Atletico and forced several saves from goalkeeper Roberto. Lance Mccullers Jr. Jersey . Assistant coach Glen Gulutzan said Thursday that Edler, who played Tuesday in Nashville, is out indefinitely.Mercedes have withdrawn their protest against Max Verstappen over his defending of second place versus Lewis Hamilton at the Japanese GP. The team had initially alleged the teenager drove erratically and in a dangerous manner on the penultimate lap when Hamilton sought to overtake the Red Bull.According to Mercedes, their protest was withdrawn in the interests of establishing a final official result once it became apparent that the hearing cannot be concluded today. But there was confusion from Hamilton, with the world champion originally posting on Twitter: There is no protest from either myself or Mercedes. One idiot said we have but its not true. Max drove well, end of. We move on.However, after apparently learning that the team had lodged an appeal, Hamilton then posted: Just heard the team had but I told them it is not what we do. We are champions, we move on. End of! The Formula 1 Gossip column All the latest speculation and rumour in the paddock The incident in question had occurred when Hamilton closed in on Verstappen during the final stages of Sundays race.After the Mercedes driver attempted an ambitious overtake on the run to the chicane, Hamilton was forced to pull out of the corner when Verstappen refused to yield.Hamilton takes blame for startThe FIA, the sports governing body, originally stated that a decision wouldnt be made until the US Grand Prix in two weeks with neither driver available to give or refute evidence, as Mercedes only issued their complaint over three hours after the chequered flag had fallen in Suzuka.A time penalty for Verstappen would have both sealed a belated one-two for Mercedes and closed Hamiltons gap to Nico Rosberg in the title race, which stands at 33 points with four races remaining after the Germans victory. Verstappen has drawn criticism from other drivers for his defensive driving throughout the campaign, clashing with Sebastian Vettel and Kimi Raikkonen in particular, and stood his ground when questioned on the latest incident.Im not going to open the door and say here you go, the teenager told Sky F1. I saw him moving and as soon as I saw that I closed the door, and I think he was far enouugh that he could see I was going to do that.ddddddddddddRed Bull boss Christian Horner added: I think it was firm but fair. Max was always going to go for the inside line. I think he committed just before the braking area. It was one move and decisive for the inside.Youre not there to wave the other car through.Mercedes confirmed in a statement that they had originally lodged a protest to the FIA under the following regulation: 27.5. At no time may a car be driven unnecessarily slowly, erratically or in a manner which could be deemed potentially dangerous to other drivers or any other person. Lewis Hamilton drops back to eighth after a poor start in the Japanese GP. This will apply whether any such car is being driven on the track, the pit entry or the pit lane.Despite stewards investigations in the past, Verstappen has never been penalised for dangerous driving in 2016 - though he was given an unofficial warning at the Italian GP.Hamilton, who cancelled his usual post-race press briefing in Japan, appeared to have calmed down in the press conference after his earlier protest that Verstappen had moved under-braking over team radio.It doesnt really matter now, he told reporters. Its done and we move forwards.Dont miss The F1 Reports review of the Japanese GP on Sky Sports F1 at 8.30pm on Wednesday evening. Also See: Hamilton takes blame for start Nico extends title lead The Formula 1 Gossip Column WATCH: Hamiltons horrid start ' ' '