Walker, McCutchen power Pirates past Giants

PITTSBURGH - The Pirates could be forgiven for wanting no part of any break, All-Star or otherwise. Neil Walker went 5-for-5, Andrew McCutchen blasted two more home runs, and A.J. Burnett won his 10th game in Pittsburgh's 13-2 blowout of San Francisco on Sunday at PNC Park. That sent the Pirates, whose streak of 19 consecutive losing seasons is a professional sports record, into the break with a 48-37 record, their highest point above .500 since that 1992 season, which was the last time the Pirates had a winning record and the last time they made a playoff appearance. They've also won 22 of their past 33. "It's a great sendoff, for sure, for these fans to finish up the half like this," said Walker, the Pittsburgh native. "We're just getting started, though. Long way to go." Walker's average was at .256 on June 26, but his two-week tear has it up to .291 and closer to his career norms. He doubled in his opening at-bat, hit his sixth ho...