Liriano, McCutchen lift Pirates past Dodgers

Pitcher’s homer, McCutchen’s 3 hits lifts Pirates

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Francisco Liriano doesn’t make hitting complicated. After all, he’s a pitcher

The left-hander hit the first home run of his 10-year career and Andrew McCutchen went 3 for 3 as the Pittsburgh Pirates held on to beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 6-5 on Saturday.

Liriano hit a three-run shot in the second inning in his 160th career at-bat to put the Pirates ahead 4-2. However, he could not hold the lead as he wound up allowing four runs in three innings.

Liriano had a simple explanation for his home run.

“I was just trying to put a good swing on it and I was lucky enough that it went out,” Liriano said.

Pirates manager Clint Hurdle got a kick out of the opposite-field homer to left.

“It was like Halley’s Comet,” Hurdle said with a grin. “I always kid him, ‘Can I see a home run in my lifetime?’ As many as he has hit in batting practice, I’ve been waiting for this. The way it played out, it was a big home run.”

McCutchen is 13 for 29 (.448) with nine RBIs and 10 runs scored in his last nine games. He has been on base in 14 of his last 18 plate appearances.

Neil Walker had two hits for the Pirates, including a home run.

The Dodgers got within a run on Scott Van Slyke’s RBI double with one out in the ninth but Mark Melancon held on for his major league-leading 35th save.

Yasiel Puig followed Van Slyke and was originally ruled safe on a throwing error by third baseman Aramis Ramirez but was called out following a video replay.

Joc Pederson then walked before Melancon struck out Yasmani Grandal to end it.

Dodgers manager Don Mattingly never directly answered the question when asked if he felt the replay review resulted in the correct call on Puig.

“I just want them to get it right,” Mattingly said. “If they get it right then it’s fine. If it’s 100 percent clear and convincing that foot was 100 percent on the bag then that’s what the call should be and that’s the right call.”

The Pirates won for the 13th time in their last 16 home games and improved to 33-14 against NL West teams over the last two seasons while maintaining a four-game lead over the Chicago Cubs in the NL wild card standings.

The Dodgers’ Adrian Gonzalez had three hits. Van Slyke had two hits and two RBIs while Kike Hernandez hit a two-run home run and Howie Kendrick and Alex Hernandez had two hits each.

The Dodgers lost for the second straight day after winning seven of eight and stayed three games ahead of the San Francisco Giants in the NL West. Los Angeles is 23-31 against the NL Central and 2-7 versus the Pirates over the last two seasons.

Joe Blanton (3-2) pitched three scoreless innings for his first win since the Pirates acquired him from the Kansas City Royals in a trade on July 30.

“One of the reasons we got him is because he can pitch through a lineup,” Hurdle said. “He had a really clean outing and he got better and stronger as it went on.”