A return to PNC Park didn’t help the Pittsburgh Pirates, as they lost 9-2 to the Los Angeles Angels. The loss is the Pirates’ fourth-straight and fifth in the past six games.
Once again, Francisco Liriano (4-5) struggled with command and location. The end result was an early exit — he lasted a season-low 3.1 innings after allowing seven runs (six earned) on 10 hits.
The Angels wasted no time setting the tone in the game, as Mike Trout and Johnny Giavotella each had RBI singles in a three-run first inning. But, Liriano’s tough night was just beginning.
In the third inning, he allowed another two runs when Gregorio Petit doubled and Shane Robinson singled. An inning later, Liriano allowed a one-out home run to Kole Calhoun on a 2-1 pitch. That same inning, after Trout singled, there was a mound visit. The next batter, Albert Pujols, singled, and manager Clint Hurdle made the walk to the mound to remove his starting pitcher.
Still, the Angels weren’t done scoring; Yunel Escobar’s single plated another two runs.
The Pirates scored their lone two runs in the second inning when both Starling Marte and Jung Ho Kang hit solo home runs off starting pitcher Jared Weaver. It was Marte’s fifth homer this season and was Kang’s seventh. Those deep shots were the lone blemishes on the scoreboard for Weaver (5-4), who tossed six innings and allowed six hits.
The Pirates came into the game dealing with a few injuries. In Thursday night’s game, Andrew McCutchen, Jordy Mercer, Francisco Cervelli and David Freese all suffered various discomfort injuries and left the game early. No one was placed on the disabled list and no corresponding roster moves were made, which suggests that the injuries weren’t too serious.
McCutchen was in Friday’s starting lineup, but Cervelli, Freese and Mercer weren’t.
Up next
This series continues Saturday when the Pirates’ Jeff Locke (4-3, 4.33 ERA) faces the Angels’ Nick Tropeano (3-2, 3.25 ERA). Locke hasn’t faced the Angels in his major league career
