Final
Pirates get past Dodgers
May 31, 2014 - 6:11 AM Los Angeles, CA (SportsNetwork.com) - Francisco Liriano struck out eight in 5 2/3 scoreless innings to earn his first win of the season and help the Pittsburgh Pirates edge the Los Angeles Dodgers, 2-1, in the second test of a four-game set from Dodger Stadium.It took Liriano (1-5) 12 games to finally enter the win column on the heels of his terrific 2013 campaign in which he compiled a career-high 16 wins. He allowed five hits and walked a pair.
"It was a battle out there tonight," said Liriano. "I just tried to stay focused. My changeup was working and I had better location. It's good to get that first win out of the way because I felt I wasn't doing my job."
Ike Davis went 2-for-4 with a solo homer for Pittsburgh, winners in seven of 10. Josh Harrison also had two hits and Neil Walker drove in the other run.
Josh Beckett (3-2) yielded two runs on five hits over five innings in his return to the mound following his first no-hitter against the Phillies on May 25. Four LA relievers combined to allow just a hit in four innings of work, but Hanley Ramirez's RBI single in the eighth was the only run the offense could muster.
"Josh threw the ball okay but wasn't quite as sharp tonight," said Dodgers manager Don Mattingly.
Jason Grilli worked the ninth for Pittsburgh to earn his seventh save of the season.
The Pirates built their lead early on, pushing one run across in both the third and fourth innings. With two outs and Clint Barmes on first, Harrison singled to extend the third and Walker roped one into right, plating Barmes for the first run.
Davis doubled the margin one inning later, crushing a 2-1 offering over the wall in center.
The shutout was intact until the eighth inning. Mark Melancon took the hill and served up a leadoff single to Chone Figgins. Figgins moved to second on Yasiel Puig's grounder and scored as Ramirez lined one to deep right field one batter later.
Melancon induced grounders by Matt Kemp and a pinch-hitting Adrian Gonzalez to hold the lead for Grilli, who faced the minimum en route to his third save since returning from the disabled list.
Game Notes
Ramirez had two of LA's seven hits ... Dee Gordon swiped two bases for the Dodgers, extending his major league lead to 34 steals ... Los Angeles finished 2-for-15 with runners in scoring position.
- PITTSBURGH: 2
LOS ANGELES: 1
Final
May 31 1:36 AM - Hanley Ramirez single to right scored Chone Figgins with one out. Runner on first and Matt Kemp due up.
Pirates 2, Dodgers 1 Bot 8, 1 OutMay 31 1:07 AM - Ike Davis lead-off Home Run (4) to center. Russell Martin due up.
Pirates 2, Dodgers 0 Top 4, 0 OutsMay 30 11:21 PM - Neil Walker single to right scored Clint Barmes with two out. On the play, Josh Harrison advances to third. Runners on first and third and Andrew McCutchen due up.
Pirates 1, Dodgers 0 Top 3, 2 OutsMay 30 11:04 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
LOS ANGELES: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
May 30 10:11 PM
Related News
- When Clayton Kershaw was Shohei Ohtani for a day Dec 26
- 2023 review: Andre Jackson Dec 25
- Notes: Shohei Ohtani, Joe Kelly, Walker Buehler, Manuel Margot Dec 25
- 2023 review: Yonny Hernández Dec 24
- Dodgers will pay $19.4 million luxury tax for 2023 Dec 23
- 2023 review: Phil Bickford Dec 23
- Reactions to Yamamoto signing with Dodgers Dec 23
- Pirates Top Games of 2023: No. 6 - Drew Maggi gets his moment Dec 23
- The Pirates got it right with Andrew McCutchen Dec 22
- Shelby Miller signs with Tigers Dec 22
- 2023 review: Justin Bruihl Dec 22
- A plea for a Dodgers knuckleballer Dec 22