Pirates complete sweep of A's in Oakland
OAKLAND, Calif. -- Left-hander Francisco Liriano gave up three runs over five innings and ended his five-game losing streak as the Pittsburgh Pirates rallied for the third straight game to defeat the Oakland Athletics 6-3 and complete a series sweep at the Oakland Coliseum.
Liriano allowed six hits, struck out two and walked only one, his lowest total since walking none on April 30 against Cincinnati. Liriano (5-8) won for the first time since beating Arizona on May 24. In his previous start, he allowed five runs and walked five over 4 1/3 innings in a 5-4 loss to the Dodgers.
Rookie left fielder Adam Frazier made his second career start and went 2-for-4 with a triple and a double for the Pirates. He drove in the game-tying run with a sixth-inning triple then scored the go-ahead run that inning, giving the Pirates a 4-3 lead.
David Freese hit a two-run homer -- his eighth blast of the year -- in the eighth inning off A's reliever John Axford, extending Pittsburgh's lead to 6-3. Gregory Polanco went 2-for-4 and drove in two runs.
A's rookie right-hander Daniel Mengden (1-4) allowed four runs on seven hits over 5 1/3 innings. Mengden, who was coming off his first career big league win, struck out five and walked four.
Coco Crisp and Khris Davis each had two hits for the A's. Billy Butler and catcher Matt McBride both doubled.
For the third straight game, Oakland scored first, this time taking a 2-0 lead in the second inning. Davis lined a one-out single and scored on Butler's double down the left field line. Butler moved to third on Jake Smolinski's sharp single and scored on McBride's ground out.
Pittsburgh pulled even with two runs in the fifth. Frazier lined a leadoff double to center, and Jody Mercer walked. Erik Kratz tried to advance the runners, but his bunt was too hard, and Mengden forced Frazier at third base.
Mengden hit John Jaso with a pitch, loading the bases, and Polanco lined a two-run single to center.
Oakland responded with a run in the bottom of the fifth. McBride, who was called up Sunday from Triple-A Nashville, lined a leadoff double down the left field line and scored on Crisp's single with one out.
Pittsburgh regained the lead at 4-3 with two runs in the sixth. Matt Joyce led off with a walk, and Frazier lined an RBI triple down the right field line with one out. Mercer walked, and Kratz brought Frazier home with an infield single.
The A's had runners on first and third with one out in the sixth against reliever A.J. Schugel, but pinch hitter Stephen Vogt lined into a double play. The A's had runners on first and third with no outs in the seventh, but Neftali Feliz retired the next three batters in order, striking out Marcus Semien and Danny Valencia.
Pirates right-hander Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth for his 24th save overall and 20th straight.
A's right-hander Fernando Rodriguez left the game with an apparent injury to this pitching arm in the eighth inning after his third pitch to the second batter he faced.
Pirates manager Clint Hurdle was tossed out of the game by home plate umpire Sam Holbrook in the bottom of the sixth inning, apparently for arguing balls and strikes from the dugout.
NOTES: A's C Josh Phegley (strained right knee) was placed on the 15-day disabled list Sunday, and "there's a potential" for surgery, manager Bob Melvin said. Phegley had an MRI, and A's doctors are "mulling over what they're seeing right now in there," Melvin said. ... The A's recalled C Matt McBride from Triple-A Nashville, and he started against Pittsburgh. ... Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen was out of the starting lineup Sunday to rest a sore heel, manager Clint Hurdle said. "I think he actually banged his heel (Friday) night on the play at the plate. He managed it. He can manage it. I wanted to give him a blow today because I thought it was barking on him last night at the end of the game. Hopefully it will give him a little breather for our series in St. Louis." ... Pirates OF/INF Adam Frazier made his second career start and first in left field on Sunday. He started at second base on Tuesday against Seattle.