Pirates 5, Giants 2
SAN FRANCISCO -- Left-hander Francisco Liriano limited the San Francisco Giants to one run in seven innings and shortstop Jordy Mercer homered for the second day in a row, helping the Pittsburgh Pirates complete a three-game sweep of the defending World Series champions with a 5-2 win on Wednesday.
The sweep was the Pirates' first in San Francisco in 11 years and exacted a measure of revenge from a team that ended Pittsburgh season with an 8-0 thrashing in the National League wild-card game in October.
The Giants have lost five in a row, their longest losing streak since an eight-gamer in April.
Liriano (3-4), who had just one win in his first eight starts, remained unbeaten in his last three games with a third consecutive dominant effort. The former Giants prospect held his first employer to four hits in seven innings, walking one and striking out six.
Liriano has 29 strikeouts in his last three starts, during which he has allowed only two runs in 19 innings.
Pirates starting pitchers are now 11-1 with 2.64 ERA in their last 14 games.
Mercer gave the Pirates the lead for good with a home run to left field leading off the fifth inning against Giants starter Tim Hudson. The homer was Mercer's fourth in 10 career games at AT&T Park.
Mercer also contributed a double to the Pirates' game-breaking, three-run ninth against the Giants' bullpen. Jung Ho Kang, who shares time at shortstop with Mercer, delivered the big blow of the inning, a two-run double against the third San Francisco pitcher, right-hander Sergio Romo.
Left fielder Jose Tabata also had two hits for the Pirates, who outhit the Giants 11-9.
The Pirates, who have won 11 of their last 13, took advantage of two baserunning blunders by Giants left fielder Nori Aoki.
Having already scored once, the Giants had runners on first and second with No. 3 hitter Angel Pagan up in the third inning. But Aoki took off on his own for third base and was caught stealing, ending the threat.
Aoki and second baseman Joe Panik also stood on second and first, respectively, after singles leading off the eighth with the Giants down 2-1. Pagan hit a liner right at Mercer, who easily doubled Aoki off second after the baserunner had made no effort to retreat during the brief time the ball was in the air.
Pirates right-hander Jared Hughes benefited from the double play, then finished the eighth by getting Giants catcher Buster Posey on a grounder to first.
Right-hander Rob Scahill gave up three consecutive singles with one out in the ninth before closer Mark Melancon wrapped up Pittsburgh's fifth win in seven games on their 10-game trip by getting the final two outs, one of which was a Brandon Crawford grounder that scored catcher Andrew Susac. Melancon was credited with his 16th save.
Hudson (3-5), who hasn't beaten Pittsburgh since 2012, took the loss.
Aoki and Panik combined for four of the Giants' nine hits.
For the fourth game in a row, the Giants scored first on a double by Hudson and bloop singles by Aoki and Panik in the third inning. Hudson was the first Giant to reach base against Liriano, who retired the first eight batters he faced.
The Pirates drew even in the fourth on three hits of their own, all singles. Tabata's two-out hit scored center fielder Andrew McCutchen with the tying run.
Mercer's homer broke the tie in the fifth.
NOTES: The Giants entered the game 8-3 against left-handed starting pitchers, tied with Washington for the most wins among National League clubs. ... The Giants' next game is Friday at Philadelphia, but they were set to fly to Washington, D.C., after the game Wednesday. The defending World Series champions have a date with President Obama scheduled for Thursday afternoon at the White House -- their third in five years. ... The Pirates also don't play Thursday after a cross-country trip Wednesday night. They wrap up a 10-game trip with a three-game series in Atlanta, starting Friday. ... The Pirates announced earlier in the day that RHP Radhames Liz cleared waivers and has agreed to join their Triple-A affiliate in Indianapolis. The 31-year-old was designated for assignment last week after compiling a 3.63 ERA in 11 games.