(Photo Credit: AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) PNC Park – Francisco Liriano pitched another gem Saturday night as he threw 7 innings of shutout ball to halt the Pirates 2-game losing skid with a 5 - 2 win over the Rockies. The Rockies threatened early against Liriano as they had second and third in the first with one out. Francisco would then get Michael Cuddyer to strikeout and Will Rosario to groundout to end the threat. They would have two more on in the third thanks to two one ... Read More
Pirates Gameday: Bucs Look To Snap Skid With Liriano
(Photo Credit: Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) PNC Park – The Pirates (65 - 44) look to snap a 2-game skid tonight as they take on the Rockies (52 - 59) in the second game of a 3-game set. Francisco Liriano (11 – 4, 2.16 ERA) will face Jorge De La Rosa (10 – 5, 3.21 ERA). Leading Off Francisco Liriano brings a team-leading 11 wins into tonight’s start. That figure represents the most wins by a southpaw since Zach Duke recorded 11 victories in 2009. The last Bucco to win 12 or more games in a ... Read More
Pirates Pull Within 1/2 Game Behind Cardinals With 9-2 Win
PNC Park – The Pirates started off their 5-game in four day stretch against the first place Cardinals with a dominating 9 - 2 victory Monday night bringing them to within a ½ game of the Cards for the NL Central Lead. Francisco Liriano helped his Cy Young chances by throwing 7 innings of two-hit, one run ball while striking out eight. He experienced a bit of trouble in the fourth when he allowed back-to-back singles with one out. He would then strike out Allen Craig and Yadier Molina to end the ... Read More
Is This The Biggest Series in PNC Park History?
One can say that PNC hosted some pretty important series over the last year, but nothing compares to this as the Pirates have a shot at taking first place from their opponent. (Worth noting: The Bucs did have an opportunity like this last season, but that series took place in Cincinnati.) The last time Pittsburgh witnessed something like this, you would have to look all the way back to July 10th-13th of 1997 when the Bucs started the second half of the season in first place by a game over the ... Read More
Frank the Tank leads Pirates to 2-0 win
With the MLB Draft and the news of top prospect Gerrit Cole likely making his Pirates debut on Tuesday making the headlines today, the Pirates had to get back to business after a much needed off day. While the city is buzzing about seeing the pitching phenom in a few days, it was another relatively new Pirates that impressed again and stopped the Pirates three-game losing skid with a 2-0 victory over the Chicago Cubs. Francisco Liriano has been excellent in all but one start since coming off ... Read More
Pirates waste solid outing from Liriano, lose 2-0 to Reds
Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano turned in an outing worthy enough of a victory. Unfortunately for him, the Pirates offense made sure that wouldn’t happen. Liriano struck out 11 in six innings of work, allowing only four hits and a questionable earned run, but the Bucs bats were silenced for a second consecutive night by a Cincinnati Reds starter as the Pirates were shutout by the Reds 2-0. A night after Johnny Cueto tossed eight shutout innings against the Pirates, ... Read More
Pirate of the Week: Francisco Liriano
When Francisco Liriano left the Minnesota Twins, mostly everyone had counted his career as "over". In 2006, Liriano won 12 games and had an ERA of 2.16. He's never really gotten back to that form it seems. But now with the Pirates, he's seemingly starting his career over again. This past week, Liriano made his first two starts for the Buccs, picking up a win in each outing. With a 2-0 record, he has an ERA of 1.64. He also has 16 strikeouts through two games. He hasn't went extremely deep in a ... Read More
Liriano shines in debut; Tabata and Mercer pace the offense in 11-2 win
To say that the Pirates had its most satisfying win of the season Saturday is an understatement. It's not just that they dominated the Mets 11-2, it's the way they got there. One of the biggest acquisitions in the offseason, Francisco Liriano, made his long-awaited Pirates debut on Saturday. If this is a preview of things to come, Pirates fans will be quite happy. Liriano, who missed spring training due to injury, came out looking like the pitcher that threw a no-hitter for the Minnesota ... Read More
Examining the Pirates Starting Pitching options for 2013
Right before the holidays, the Pittsburgh Pirates agreed to sign left-handed pitcher Francisco Liriano, pending a physical. Over the holidays though Liriano hurt his right elbow, and has put the signing in major jeopardy. The Pirates aren’t too thrilled with the fact that he got hurt even though it is his non-throwing elbow. Going into the 2013 season the Pirates have only three starters penciled into their rotation. Those pitchers being A.J. Burnett, Wandy Rodriguez, and James McDonald. ... Read More
Pirates reportedly agree to two-year deal with Francisco Liriano
According to LaVelle E. Neal III of the Minneapolis Star Tribune, the Pirates have agreed to a two-year deal with Francisco Liriano worth $14 million. The south-paw spent last year in Minnesota and Chicago where he posted a combined 6-12 record with a 5.34 ERA and a 1.47 WHIP. Liriano has had an up-and-down career with his best statistical season coming in 2006 where he posted a 12-3 record. Liriano posted a 9.6 SO/9 last season, his highest ratio since 2006. Liriano had a 0.2 WAR with ... Read More