Francisco Liriano looked like his 2013 self and the Pirate bats put up four runs in the first as they took a three-game series from the Dodgers with a 6-1 victory on Wednesday night.
The Pirates (54-47) got to an ineffective Dan Haren right away as Gregory Polanco and Travis Snider started the bottom of the first with singles. Neil Walker and Russell Martin followed with one out walks to put the first run across. Ike Davis added a sac fly and Josh Harrison put a cap on the inning with a 2-RBI double to left-center.
“We had him throw quite a few pitches in the first inning,” Harrison said. “We got runners in scoring position and it’s just one of those things where you try to get as many runs as possible, but that’s every day for us.”
Snider added to the fun in the second when he sent a first pitch fastball into the top row of the Clemente seats to extend the lead to 5-0.
“It was a good swing,” Snider said. “It was nice to hit one over the Clemente wall. It’s been two and a half years and the thing’s been staring at me. I hit one off the top of the wall before, but not over it. This one felt good.”
The lead helped Liriano calm down after walking two in the first frame. He kept a no-hitter in tact until one out in the fifth when Miguel Rojas hit a liner just under the diving glove of Snider for a double.
The Dodgers (56-47) finally got on the board in the sixth after a single and double to start the inning. Liriano then induced a groundout, fly out and strikeout to escape the inning up 5-1. He then worked the seventh before giving way to the bullpen, who pitched two scoreless innings in relief to end it.
“Tonight I had better command than my last start,” Liriano said. “I threw more strikes and got some quick outs. I was getting ahead in the count better than my last start, so I think everything is coming together. I just have to keep working on my fastball, get ahead of hitters and throw more strikes.”
Andrew McCutchen added a RBI double in the seventh to finish the scoring.
Final Score: Pirates 6, Dodgers 1.
This is the first time in 14 years that the Pirates have won a season series over the Dodgers.
Starters Lines
Liriano (W, 2-7): 7 IP, 4 H, 1 R, 1 ER, 2 BB, 4 K’s, 1 HBP. 96 Pitches (57 Strikes).
Haren (L, 8-8): 5 IP, 4 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 1 IBB, 6 K’s, 1 HR. 84 Pitches (50 Strikes).
The Pirates have a travel day tomorrow and will start a three-game series in Colorado starting Friday evening.
(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
