PIT 9, NYM 1: Liriano bounces back in big way

LHP Francisco Liriano (Peter Diana/Post-Gazette)

Francisco Liriano needed a big rebound performance Sunday, and he delivered. He struck a season-high 12 hitters over six innings, scattering six hits, two walks and a run as the Pirates swept the New York Mets with a 9-1 win in the series finale at PNC Park.

Liriano allowed seven runs in two innings in his previous start. This time, he had everything working. His 12 strikeouts were most by any Pirates starter this year, and he joined Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett in the double-digit strikeout club against the Mets. That trio combined for 32 strikeouts and two earned runs in 21 1/3 innings this series.

Cole, Burnett and Liriano are the first Pirates starters to strike out at least 10 hitters in three consecutive games since 1969.

"It was the start we needed, the start we needed from him," manager Clint Hurdle said. "Two walks and 12 punch-outs. He did a lot of the work out there on his own."

You could tell Liriano had his good stuff when, after putting runners on second and third with no outs in the second, he struck out the side to escape.

"Frankie's a better pitcher when he's got some problems," catcher Francisco Cervelli said.

Three great crowds at PNC Park saw three great starts. A wonderful weekend at the ballpark.

Next up: Miami Marlins. They snapped an eight-game losing streak this weekend with two wins against the Baltimore Orioles. The Pirates have been streaky all season, winning in quick bursts, then losing any momentum and hovering around .500. This would be a good time to make up some ground. Thing is, it isn’t their top three going this series, it’s Charlie Morton, Jeff Locke and then Cole.

Andrew McCutchen hit his third homer in four games, a two-run blast in the fifth, so the Mets decided to intentionally walk him with a runner on second and two outs in the sixth. They poked a sleeping bear with that decision. Starling Marte emerged from an 0-for-13 slump to smoke the first pitch he saw over the left-field fense.

"Pick your poison, that's the way I look at it,“ McCutchen said. ”Pick your poison. Guess they felt since Marte hadn't been swinging the bat the past few games, they could get him out. Nah, you can't do that either. That's good. They can keep doing that, intentionally walking me to get to Marte, and Marte will hit us in. I'm fine with that."

Marte wanted to make Mets pay, and pay they did. It was his ninth homer of the year, his third three-run homer. "I just told myself, be ready on time, because I was struggling a little bit,“ he said. ”Be on time, ready to hit no matter what happens before. Just tried to put the ball in play."

And he got his pitch.

“Oh yeah,” he said, grinning.

Loved what Hurdle had to say about it afterward: "[Marte] had a rough day, because he got pitched extremely well. They finally made a mistake, and he blasted it. He's that guy that can take some swings that make you go, ’Huh?’ Then before you know it he's trotting around the bases and has driven in a couple."

SUNDAY FARM REPORT

INDIANAPOLIS (25-19) lost to Syracuse, 5-3. LHP Clayton Richard (1-1, 4.02) was the loser, allowing 4 runs and 5 hits in 5 innings. 3B Deibinson Romero (.301) hit a 2-run homer. SS Gustavo Nunez (.309) and LF Jaff Decker (.324) both went 2 for 4. BOX SCORE

ALTOONA (24-17) beat New Hampshire, 11-3. RHP Angel Sanchez (4-1, 3.02) was the winner, giving up 2 runs and 6 hits in 8 innings. 1B Josh Bell (.338) went 4 for 5 with 4 RBIs. CF Keon Broxton (.293) went 3 for 4 with an RBI. C Sebastian Valle (.298) went 2 for 4 with 2 RBIs. BOX SCORE

BRADENTON (22-22) beat Lakeland, 2-1. LHP Steven Brault (3-0, 3.59) was the winner, allowing 1 run and 6 hits in 6 innings. SS JaCoby Jones (.273) went 2 for 4. CF Austin Meadows (.315) went 1 for 3 and scored a run. BOX SCORE

WEST VIRGINIA (25-18) beat Delmarva, 4-2. RHP Yeudy Garcia (2-3, 1.70) was the winner, giving up 2 hits and striking out 6 in 5 scoreless innings. 3B Jordan Luplow (.230) homered. CF Tito Polo (.256) went 2 for 4 with an RBI. BOX SCORE