Francisco Liriano carries Pirates to slump-breaking win over Cardinals
By Matt Gajtka
Seeking to recover from a difficult 14-inning loss Tuesday night and break a season-high four-game losing streak, the Pittsburgh Pirates had the right man on the hill.
Francisco Liriano threw his second complete game of the season, limiting the St. Louis Cardinals to four hits as the Pirates snagged a much-needed 5-1 win on a crisp Wednesday evening at Busch Stadium. With the victory, their first since last Thursday, the Bucs (71-48) restored their three-game lead over the Cards for first in the National League Central.
St. Louis (68-51) had to come into the game with some confidence after rallying for a nearly five-hour win the night before. But Liriano stifled any thoughts the Cardinals had of getting within a game with terrific control – he allowed only one walk – and a wipeout slider that he used to complement his firm fastball.
The 29-year-old lefty struck out six in delivering the Pirates’ third nine-inning start of 2013; A.J. Burnett had the other one earlier this month. Liriano’s 96-pitch gem ensured that Pittsburgh wouldn’t drop five straight for the first time all season.
Aug 14, 2013; St. Louis, MO, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano (47) throws to a St. Louis Cardinals batter during the ninth inning at Busch Stadium. Pittsburgh defeated St. Louis 5-1. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
On the offensive side, Pedro Alvarez and Garrett Jones each knocked home runs and Starling Marte had two RBIs. It was redemption for Marte, whose ninth-inning error Tuesday night opened the door for the Cardinals to tie the game.
Liriano also had some personal motivation to bounce back, since he allowed 10 runs to the Rockies last Friday in easily his worst start of the year. The Dominican Republic native has helped author 13 Pirates wins in his 18 appearances.
For the second consecutive night, the Pirates hit a pair of early home runs to jump on top. This time they both came in the second inning, with Alvarez and Jones launching solo bombs off Miller to center and left field, respectively. Alvarez’ 29th of the season was a towering shot onto the grassy batter’s eye that put him into a tie with Arizona’s Paul Goldschimdt for the NL lead. Jones’ line drive shot was his 11th.
While Liriano cruised, the Bucs added three more runs in the fourth against Miller, who entered with a sub-3.00 ERA but struggled with command for most of the game. He didn’t get any help from his defense in the fourth, as third baseman David Freese bobbled a potential double-play ball from Garrett Jones to put two runners on with nobody out.
Andrew Lambo, getting his second MLB start in as many days, flied out to center, but fellow rookie Tony Sanchez bounced an RBI single through the left side to make it 3-0. Following Liriano’s sacrifice bunt, Marte smoked a two-run liner up the middle that ended up as a hustling double.
Pittsburgh got two more hits in the fifth – a single from Andrew McCutchen and a double from Neil Walker – but the game quieted considerably from there. The Cardinals bullpen retired the final 12 Pirates, which didn’t matter because Liriano allowed only three baserunners in the final five innings.
The only St. Louis hit after the fourth was Matt Carpenter’s one-out double that eventually prevented Liriano from recording his first-career shutout. A wild pitch pushed Carpenter to third, and he scored on Carlos Beltran’s grounder to third. With the bases empty again, Allen Craig flied out to right to end the Pirates’ skid.
The Pirates will seek another series win over the Cardinals on Thursday afternoon, sending Burnett (2.95 ERA) against Lance Lynn (3.79).