The Pittsburgh Pirates' first trip to Anaheim in six years got off to a good start, and they look to continue their success when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the second contest of their three-game series on Saturday. Pittsburgh, which is facing Los Angeles for the first time since 2007, opened the set with a 5-2 triumph behind starter Gerrit Cole and fellow rookie Jordy Mercer. Cole pitched 6 1/3 strong innings to notch his third win in as many major-league outings and Mercer went 3-for-4 with two RBIs.
Pittsburgh improved to 3-2 on its nine-game road trip with the victory while the Angels fell to 5-3 on their 10-game homestand. Los Angeles mustered only four hits in the loss - three singles and a solo home run by Albert Pujols. The Angels were without outfielder Josh Hamilton, who may miss the entire series with a sore right wrist.
TV: 10:05 p.m. ET, ROOT Sports (Pittsburgh), FSN West (Los Angeles)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates LH Francisco Liriano (5-3, 2.44 ERA) vs. Angels RH Jerome Williams (5-2, 3.14)
Liriano is coming off a tough road loss to the Cincinnati Reds on Monday in which he allowed only two runs in six innings. The 29-year-old Dominican, who served up his first two home runs of the season in that outing, has yielded fewer than three runs in each of his last two defeats. Liriano has not fared well against the Angels in his career, going 1-4 with a 6.69 ERA in eight games (seven starts).
Three of Williams' last four appearances have been out of the bullpen. The 31-year-old is 4-2 in seven starts, including a six-inning outing at Baltimore on June 12 in which he picked up the win despite surrendering four runs and nine hits. Williams is 1-2 with a 3.38 ERA in four career starts against Pittsburgh.
WALK-OFFS
1. Liriano has given up more than two runs only twice in eight starts this year.
2. Pirates 3B Pedro Alvarez has collected 11 RBIs over his last six games.
3. Royals RHP Billy Buckner allowed a run over 2 2/3 innings Friday after being recalled from Triple-A Salt Lake earlier in the day. Buckner is filling the roster spot of LHP Jason Vargas, who was placed on the disabled list with a blood clot in his left arm.
PREDICTION: Pirates 4, Angels 1