Final
Pirates shut out Diamondbacks to earn series sweep
Apr 27, 2015 - 1:52 AM Phoenix, AZ (SportsNetwork.com) - Francisco Liriano overcame command issues to toss 6 1/3 scoreless innings and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed a three-game sweep with a 8-0 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks.Liriano (1-1) walked six batters, but gave up just two hits, struck out seven and did not allow a runner past second base. He has recorded at least seven strikeouts in all four of his starts this season.
Pedro Alvarez and Neil Walker drove in two runs apiece and Gregory Polanco scored three times to back Liriano.
"That's the hitter I try to be," said Walker. "To have a series like this, it's a good sign for where my swing is at."
Alvarez produced what ended up being the deciding runs in the top of the first inning, which Josh Harrison started with a single to left. Polanco followed with a single and Andrew McCutchen walked to load the bases with no outs.
Jeremy Hellickson (1-3) retired the next two batters he faced, but Alvarez slapped a single to right to score two.
Consecutive singles from Polanco and McCutchen set up Walker's one-out double in the fifth inning that made it 4-0. Hellickson departed later that inning, and Andrew Chafin struck out Alvarez to strand Walker.
Hellickson was charged with four runs on seven hits over 4 2/3 innings.
"When he gets in trouble, he doesn't control the count," said D-backs manager Chip Hale. "When you fall behind good hitters, they're going to get you."
Chris Stewart padded the lead with a sacrifice fly to left in the eighth inning, and Pittsburgh tacked on three more insurance runs in the ninth to put the game out of reach.
Harrison and Polanco hit consecutive doubles to start the frame and make it 6-0. McCutchen plated Polanco with a sacrifice fly, and Walker scored later in the inning on Sean Rodriguez's single to right.
Game Notes
Polanco and Walker had three hits apiece. Pittsburgh outhit Arizona 14-3 ... The Pirates are 8-2 in their last 10 games.
- PITTSBURGH: 8
ARIZONA: 0
Final
Apr 26 7:28 PM - S.Rodriguez singled to right, N.Walker scored, Marte to second.
Pirates 8, Diamondbacks 0 Top 9, 1 OutApr 26 7:15 PM - Sean Rodriguez singles to deep right field. Starling Marte to second. Neil Walker scores.
Pirates 8, Diamondbacks 0 Top 9, 1 OutApr 26 7:15 PM - Andrew McCutchen out on a sacrifice fly to deep center field to A.J. Pollock. Gregory Polanco scores.
Pirates 7, Diamondbacks 0 Top 9, 0 OutsApr 26 7:10 PM - McCutchen hit a sacrifice fly to center fielder Pollock, Polanco scored.
Pirates 7, Diamondbacks 0 Top 9, 1 OutApr 26 7:09 PM - Gregory Polanco doubles to right field. Josh Harrison scores.
Pirates 6, Diamondbacks 0 Top 9, 0 OutsApr 26 7:06 PM - Stewart hit a sacrifice fly to left fielder Inciarte, Marte scored.
Pirates 5, Diamondbacks 0 Top 8, 2 OutsApr 26 6:53 PM - Chris Stewart out on a sacrifice fly to left field to Ender Inciarte. Starling Marte scores.
Pirates 5, Diamondbacks 0 Top 8, 1 OutApr 26 6:53 PM - N.Walker doubled to right, Polanco scored, McCutchen scored.
Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 0 Top 5, 1 OutApr 26 5:50 PM - Neil Walker doubles to deep left field. Andrew McCutchen scores. Gregory Polanco scores.
Pirates 4, Diamondbacks 0 Top 5, 1 OutApr 26 5:50 PM - P.Alvarez singled to right, Harrison scored, Polanco scored, McCutchen to third.
Pirates 2, Diamondbacks 0 Top 1, 2 OutsApr 26 4:27 PM - Pedro Alvarez singles to right field. Andrew McCutchen to third. Gregory Polanco scores. Josh Harrison scores.
Pirates 2, Diamondbacks 0 Top 1, 2 OutsApr 26 4:26 PM - PITTSBURGH: 0
ARIZONA: 0
Top 1, 0 Outs
Apr 26 4:11 PM - Josh Harrison singles to left field.
Apr 26 4:11 PM
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