Pittsburgh’s giant slide continues

Associated Press

Pittsburgh

With or without Andrew McCutchen in the lineup, the Pittsburgh Pirates are at a loss this month.

Manager Clint Hurdle gave his star center fielder a day off and the Pirates fell to San Francisco 5-3 Thursday, their 11th defeat in 14 games.

Hurdle said McCutchen’s absence had nothing to do with a swollen left thumb, which trainer Todd Tomczyk had said was a “maintenance thing.”

Instead, Hurdle used the day off to try to get the former NL MVP back on track.

“It’s not specifically the thumb, it’s just about getting him off the field and getting him a rest — as we do with all the guys — mentally and physically,” Hurdle said.

“This is the next option. We’ve tried moving some things around, we’ve tried different routines. He’s tried some different things as well to try and spark performance.”

McCutchen is hitting .187 with just three extra-base hits in the month of June.

Pittsburgh dropped to 5-17 in June and fell five games under .500.

Joe Panik hit a bases-loaded triple, Mac Williamson launched a 446-foot home run and the Giants posted their 12th win in 14 games. San Francisco took three of four at PNC Park.

After hitting a key double late in Wednesday night’s win, Panik put the Giants ahead 3-1 with his triple in the third inning. Williamson followed with an RBI single.

Williamson connected for his second home run of the season in the sixth.

Albert Suarez (3-1) gave up two earned runs and four hits in five innings.

Suarez threw a season-high 102 pitches in his fourth start of the season while filling in for the injured Matt Cain. He struck out six.

Santiago Casilla struck out three in the ninth for his 16th save.

The Giants’ bullpen shut down the Pirates for the second consecutive game. George Kontos, Hunter Strickland, Cory Gearrin and Casilla combined to pitched four scoreless innings a day after the Giants used five relievers to pitch six shutout innings.