Pittsburgh @ Philadelphia preview

Last Meeting ( Apr 24, 2013 ) Pittsburgh 5, Philadelphia 3

The arrival of Brandon Inge may have lit a fire under Pedro Alvarez, and the Pittsburgh Pirates are the beneficiaries of the competition. The Pirates will try for their third straight victory when they visit the Philadelphia Phillies on Thursday in the finale of their four-game series. Alvarez was hitting .125 before the series, but has responded by going 4-for-8 with two homers and three RBIs in his last two games while Inge has made a major impact in his two contests in a Pirates' uniform.

Inge's second run-scoring hit in as many games since coming off the disabled list broke a tie in the eighth inning Wednesday to help the Pirates to a 5-3 victory. Inge started at third base over Alvarez in Tuesday's 2-0 victory while he served as a pinch hitter Wednesday before staying in the game at first base. The Phillies wasted a strong performance by Roy Halladay (one run, one hit and eight strikeouts in six innings) while scoring three or fewer runs for the 14th time in 22 games.

TV: 1:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), Comcast SportsNet Philadelphia

PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH James McDonald (2-2, 4.12 ERA) vs. Phillies LH Cliff Lee (2-1, 2.83)

McDonald was sharp in his last start Saturday when he held the mighty Braves to one run and two hits and struck out nine in six innings in Pittsburgh's 3-1 victory. The 28-year-old Long Beach, Calif., native walked four and has issued 12 free passes in 19 2/3 innings. The Pirates won both games McDonald started against the Phillies last season. McDonald has not fared well against Chase Utley and Ryan Howard, who are a combined 7-for-10 with two homers against him.

After three quality outings to begin the season, Lee threw in a clunker in a 5-0 loss to St. Louis on Saturday when he allowed five runs, seven hits and an uncharacteristic three walks in five innings. In his previous three starts, Lee allowed five runs (four earned) and walked one in 23 2/3 innings. He is 1-0 in three career outings against Pittsburgh. Inge has 43 at-bats against Lee with three homers among his 16 hits and 15 strikeouts, while Andrew McCutchen is 1-for-9.

WALK-OFFS

1. Pittsburgh has won 11 of its last 15 games after a 1-5 start.

2. Philadelphia hit its first two homers against a left-hander this season when 2B Chase Utley and 1B Ryan Howard took Wandy Rodriguez deep Wednesday.

3. Lee's major-league record of 20 consecutive starts of at least six innings with one or fewer walks was snapped Saturday.

PREDICTION: Phillies 3, Pirates 2