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Pirates try to secure series win vs. Phillies

Sep 11, 2014 - 2:15 PM (SportsNetwork.com) - The Pittsburgh Pirates hope to stay in the win column when they shoot for a series win over the Philadelphia Phillies Thursday in the finale of a four-game set at Citizens Bank Park.

The Pirates recorded a 6-3 win over the Phillies on Wednesday and were led by homers from Andrew McCutchen and Russell Martin. Martin drove in three runs, while McCutchen, Josh Harrison and Starling Marte all had two hits and an RBI.

McCutchen's home run was inside the park.

Former Phillie Vance Worley gave up three runs in five innings for the win and Mark Melancon picked up his 28th save with a scoreless ninth inning for Pittsburgh, which is 3 1/2 games behind St. Louis for the NL Central lead and 1 1/2 games ahead of Atlanta and Milwaukee for the second wild card spot.

"We have an opportunity to continue to play meaningful games," said Pirates manager Clint Hurdle.

Pittsburgh is 5-4 on a 10-game road trip and will return to the Steel City for the next nine games against the Cubs, Red Sox and Brewers.

Francisco Liriano takes the mound for the Pirates Thursday and he is 4-10 with a 3.74 earned run average. Liriano was 0-3 in six starts until a 5-0 win over the Cubs on Saturday, as he tossed six scoreless innings and struck out nine.

Liriano will take on Philadelphia for the first time and is 3-5 in 11 road starts this season.

Philadelphia has lost three of four games, and Jerome Williams suffered his first loss in a Phillies uniform last night. Williams gave up four runs and seven hits in five innings to fall to 3-1 with the club.

Williams, who allowed the home runs to McCuthen and Martin, drove in two runs and Wil Nieves added an RBI in defeat.

"You wanted to get that shut down inning, and I left two pitches over the plate," said Williams. "I think those are the only two mistakes I made, and they took advantage of it."

The Phillies will welcome Miami to town for three games this weekend, but hope former Pirate A.J. Burnett can pitch them to a series split with the Pirates. Burnett is only 8-15 with a 4.29 earned run average and has won two of his last three starts, including Saturday's 3-1 win at Washington.

Burnett threw seven innings of one-run ball against the Nationals and posted four strikeouts with two walks. The right-hander is 4-6 in 14 home starts and 1-2 with a 2.77 ERA in four career starts against Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh swept the Phillies in three games at PNC Park and has won 11 of the past 15 meetings in this series.