PNC Park — Francisco Liriano led another stellar start by Pirates pitching as they rode two solo shots by Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones to a 2 – 1 victory over Donovan Hand and the Milwaukee Brewers on Saturday night. It marks the 15th straight time that Pirates starters have allowed three runs or less in their starts. “It (pitching) can be contagious in so many areas and our starters are very disciplined,” said manager, Clint Hurdle. “They understand, more so than ever, the responsibility of what they have every fifth day.”
Liriano, who has given up more than two runs only once in his last seven starts, worked through a few jams during his six innings of work. He allowed the first two batters to reach to start the game, but got a strikeout and double play to stay scoreless. He would get into another in the fourth when Carlos Gomez tripled to lead-off the inning. Liriano would remain composed, though as he struck out Aramis Ramirez then get Jonathan Lucroy to ground to Neil Walker, who would gun Gomez out at home.
He would allow the only Brewer run to score in the sixth when he would allow two one-out base runners. He would get Lucroy to fly out, but Yuniesky Betancourt would follow with a RBI single. Liriano would be done after the sixth allowing a single run while striking out six. “I think it’s all about location,” mentioned Liriano. “I’ve been locating the ball very good and I’ve been throwing the fastball for a strike a lot and the guys behind me have been making some good plays for me. It’s not just me, we all have been doing the little things to win the ballgame and everybody is doing their part.”
The Pirates would get just enough on the offensive side thanks to Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones. Pedro would send a 2 – 1 pitch over the Clemente seats for a 1 – 0 Pirate lead. Jones would hit what proved to be the game winning RBI in the fourth when he sent a first-pitch fastball into the bushes for a 2 – 0 lead.
Tony Watson, Mark Melancon, and Jason Grilli (Save #27) would no-hit the Brewers over the final three innings to lock up the 50th victory for the Pirates. “Sellout crowds, we’ve been waiting for that and I’m excited and elated to be in the situation where that energy that you’re soaking up, it’s just going into me. You absorb that and you try to use it to the best of your ability,” said Grilli.
“We’re playing for ourselves, but there’s about 40,000 people tonight and a city that we’re playing for, also and it’s just awesome to see everybody dusting off their Pirates shirts and coming out in droves to see what they have wanted to for so long.”
Final Score: Pirates 2, Brewers 1.
This is the first time in franchise history that the Pirates have reached 50 wins before July 1st. The 1971 World Champion team reached that mark on July 1st before going on to win 97 games. They are also carrying an 8-game winning streak into tomorrow’s series finale at 1:35.
Starters Lines:
Liriano (W, 7 – 3): 6 IN, 7 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 1 BB, 6 K’s. 91 Pitches (58 Strikes)
Hand (L, 0 – 1): 5 IN, 5 H, 2 R, 2 ER, 2 K’s, 2 HR. 64 Pitches (53 Strikes)
Tomorrow’s Starters:
(RHP) Charlie Morton (PIT) 1 – 1, 2.81 ERA
(RHP) Kyle Lohse (MIL) 3 – 6, 3.69 ERA
(Photo Credit: Keith Srakocic)
