Pirates 5, Giants 2
PITTSBURGH -- Francisco Liriano survived some shaky defense to win his fifth consecutive decision while Andrew McCutchen and Pedro Alvarez hit solo home runs as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Francisco Giants 5-2 on Sunday night.
Liriano (9-6) gave up two unearned runs in 5 1/3 innings -- the Pirates made three errors behind him, including two by Alvarez at first base -- while allowing seven hits and three walks. The left-hander struck out five in staying unbeaten in 10 starts since a June 20 loss at Washington.
McCutchen, the All-Star center fielder, hit his 19th homer of the season in the sixth inning off left-handed reliever Jeremy Affeldt and Alvarez connected for his 20th off rookie lefty Josh Osich in the seventh to push the Pirates' lead to 5-2.
The Pirates (74-48) won for the ninth time in 11 games and remained 3 1/2 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals in the National League Central and three games ahead of the Chicago Cubs for first place in the NL wild card race.
Pittsburgh also won for the 20th time in their last 25 home games at PNC Park.
McCutchen, right fielder Gregory Polanco, left fielder Starling Marte and catcher Francisco Cervelli each had two of the Pirates' 12 hits. Marte extended his hitting streak to eight games.
Alvarez drove in two runs to offset his two errors, which raised his season total to 18, most among major league first basemen.
Closer Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth inning for his MLB-leading 39th save in 41 opportunities.
San Francisco (66-58) stayed 1 1/2 games behind the Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West and fell six games behind the Cubs for the second wild card. The Giants went 2-5 on their road trip to St. Louis and Pittsburgh and scored more than three runs only once.
Giants third baseman Matt Duffy had three hits to run his hitting streak to seven games but also grounded into an inning-ending double play to end the sixth after right-hander Arquimedes Caminero relieved Liriano. San Francisco had closed to 3-2 earlier in the inning on left fielder Nori Aoki's RBI single.
Right-hander Ryan Vogelsong (9-9) lasted just 3 1/3 innings in taking the loss as he allowed three runs and seven hits while walking four and striking out two. Vogelsong had given up a combined one run in 11 innings while winning his previous two starts.
The Pirates struck for three runs in the bottom of the first inning to open the scoring. Shortstop Jung Ho Kang and second baseman Neil Walker hit back-to-back RBI singles and Alvarez followed with a sacrifice fly.
An error by Alvarez allowed the Giants to score a run in the fifth inning when he dropped third baseman Aramis Ramirez's throw on a grounder by right fielder Marlon Byrd. That enabled Duffy to score from third base.
NOTES: Pirates SS Jordy Mercer was activated from the 15-day disabled list prior to the game after being out since July 20 with a sprained left knee, though he was not in the starting lineup. 1B/OF Travis Ishikawa (strained lower back) was placed on the 15-day DL. ... Giants CF Angel Pagan will begin what is expected to be a short rehab assignment Tuesday with Triple-A Sacramento. He has been on the DL since Aug. 10 with patellar tendinitis in his right knee. ... 2B Joe Panik began hitting off a tee Sunday at the Giants' spring training facility in Scottsdale, Ariz., and the team is hopeful he will be able to come off the disabled list Sept. 1 when the major league roster limit expands to 40 players from 25. Panik has been on the DL since Aug. 2 with inflammation in his lower back. ... The Pirates open a four-game series against the Marlins at Miami on Monday night with LHP J.A. Happ (1-1, 2.87 ERA) starting against RHP Tom Koehler (8-11, 4.02 ERA). ... The Giants are off Monday then open a three-game series with the Chicago Cubs on Tuesday night at San Francisco with RHP Matt Cain (2-3, 5.66 ERA) facing RHP Jake Arrieta (15-6, 2.30 ERA).