Rodriguez can’t hold lead in 4-3 loss

Photo by Justin Berl/Getty Images A rare implosion by closer Richard Rodriguez prevented the Pittsburgh Pirates from equaling their longest winning streak of the season Sunday, as the Colorado Rockies rallied for two runs in the ninth inning to pull out a 4-3 victory at PNC Park.

The Pirates were on the verge of winning their third straight game and sweeping the series, thanks to a strong starting pitching performance from newly recalled Chase De Jong.

But Rodriguez, who came on in the eighth to put out a fire, created a mess of his own in the ninth. The reliable right-hander opened the inning by getting a fly out, then lost a 12-pitch duel to Ryan McMahon, who managed to reach on a walk.…