Mariners rough up Liriano in Bucs’ loss

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Francisco Liriano admits there are times when the adrenaline is pumping so hard and his body feels so good it’s a struggle to take a breath, calm down and just pitch.

Times like Tuesday, when the struggling left-hander couldn’t find a rhythm or the strike zone. The result for the Pittsburgh Pirates was a 7-4 loss to the Seattle Mariners that marked a significant step back for Liriano after arguably his best start of the season.

Liriano squandered an early three-run lead — one built in part on his second career home run — and was charged with seven runs in just 3 1/3 innings.

“The ball is coming out well, I feel strong, I don’t know,” Liriano said. “Just feel too strong and try to do more than what I have.”

Five days after striking out 13 in a victory over the Brewers without issuing a walk, he struck out three and issued four walks while returning to the wildness that has marked his most difficult season since joining the Pirates in 2013. Liriano threw just 38 of his 72 pitches for strikes and far too often the balls that did make it over the plate were sent to various parts of PNC Park.

“He couldn’t get much down in the zone,” Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. “What he got in the zone was up pretty much with all three pitches. That takes you to a bad place.”

Gregory Polanco collected a season-high four hits, including his 13th homer, but the Pirates left nine men on base and went 1 for 13 with runners in scoring position. Pittsburgh jumped on Felix Hernandez (5-4) for four runs in the first two innings and put at least one runner on base in every inning but the ninth.

“It was a night we had some opportunities to get him and he got away from us,” Hurdle said.

Kyle Seager’s three hits for Seattle included his 20th home run, and Franklin Gutierrez added his 10th off Liriano, who appeared to be in good position after his home run to the bushes in center field in the second put the Pirates up 4-1.

“Got a good pitch to hit and got a good swing on it,” Liriano said. “Hit it out and just got lucky.”

The luck didn’t last. Gutierrez led off the third with a drive to the seats in right field and Seager added a two-run shot four batters later. Seattle jumped ahead for good in the fourth on run-scoring hits by Shawn O’Malley and Robinson Cano followed by an RBI groundout by Nelson Cruz off reliever Jared Hughes.

Pittsburgh catcher Francisco Cervelli took the blame for Liriano’s problems, saying he did little to help Liriano out when things took a turn for the worse.

“I think I can do better because he trusts me,” Cervelli said. “It’s my fault.”