Liriano goes distance as Pirates notch 11th victory in 13 games
CHICAGO — Whether he earns an invitation or not, Francisco Liriano at least is pitching like an All-Star.
The arm problems and struggles that weighed him down in recent seasons appear to be behind him. Now, all he's doing is breezing through opposing lineups.
Liriano pitched a four-hitter for his first complete game in more than two years, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the 11th time in 13 games, beating the Chicago Cubs 6-2 on Friday.
“This is an exclamation point to what he's been doing, to finish that game off today. In command throughout,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
An All-Star as a rookie in 2006, Liriano went the distance for the first time since he tossed a no-hitter for Minnesota against the White Sox on May 3, 2011. He struck out seven and walked four to improve 5-1 in his last six starts while tossing the first complete game by a Pittsburgh pitcher this season. He also had an RBI single.
The rosters for this year's All-Star game at Citi Field in New York will be announced on Saturday.
The Pirates, meanwhile, continue to roll along. They came in with the best record in the majors and a two-game lead over St. Louis in the NL Central, and they matched a season high by going 21 games over .500 on a day when the Cubs' Jeff Samardzija (5-8) couldn't keep the ball down in the zone.
Starling Marte had three hits to extend his streak to 10 games, scored two runs and stole two bases to back another strong start by Liriano (8-3).
The left-hander gave up a two-run homer to Scott Hairston but not much else while improving to 3-0 against the Cubs this season.
“I'm having pretty good success here in Chicago,” Liriano said.
He's having success, period. After back-to-back seasons with ERAs above 5.00, he's at 2.20 after this gem. He's consistently plowing through opponents in a way he hasn't since he was starting out with the Twins and before he had Tommy John elbow surgery.
That caused him to miss the 2007 season, and he's had his ups and downs since then. He was certainly in command on Friday, one home run aside.
“I made one mistake, fastball right down the middle, so it was a home run,” Liriano said. “After that everything was down in the zone.”
That drive by Hairston came after Liriano knocked in the game's first run in the top half with a single over shortstop Starlin Castro's glove.
The hit was just his fourth in 35 at-bats. It also gave him his first RBI since he was with Minnesota in 2011 and three in his career.
Garrett Jones, who's from suburban Tinley Park, Ill., had two hits. He drove in a run and scored one before Gaby Sanchez replaced him at first in the seventh inning.
Neil Walker delivered an RBI triple and scored during a three-run third that gave the Pirates a 4-2 lead and sent them to their seventh straight road win.
For Samardzija, it was simply a rough day. The 6-foot-5 right-hander gave up five runs in six innings, allowing nine hits for the second time in three starts while walking five. It was the most for him since he issued six against St. Louis last July 28.
“Everything was up in the zone,” said Samardzija, who also hit a batter. “Good pitches for them to hit. You mix that with being behind in the count, you're going to put yourself in a battle.”
Samardzija couldn't protect the lead after Hairston went deep off Liriano in the second, immediately giving up three in the third.
