Pirates 5, Angels 2: Gerrit Cole pitched 6 1/3 strong innings and Jordy Mercer went 3-for-4 with a two-run homer as visiting Pittsburgh captured the opener of the three-game interleague series.

Pedro Alvarez belted his 17th home run and Starling Marte added an RBI triple for the Pirates, who have won three of their last four contests.

Cole (3-0) remained perfect in three major-league starts, allowing two runs and four hits with a walk and five strikeouts. Vin Mazzaro retired all five batters he faced and Jason Grilli worked a flawless ninth for his 26th save in 27 chances.

Alvarez opened the scoring in the second with a leadoff homer and Mercer made it 3-0 two batters later with his fourth of the year. Marte plated Neil Walker in the fourth inning with his sixth triple and Andrew McCutchen added an insurance run in the ninth with an RBI double.

Jered Weaver (1-4) suffered his third straight loss after surrendering four runs and nine hits over six innings. Albert Pujols launched a solo homer for the Angels, who had won six of eight.

GAME NOTEBOOK: Angels LF Mike Trout made a sensational inning-ending diving catch in the fifth to rob Pirates 1B Gaby Sanchez of an extra-base hit and save a run. ... Alvarez has recorded 11 RBIs in his last six games. ... The Pirates improved to 7-3 against the American League this season, while the Angels fell to 4-6 vs. the National League.