Pirates bullpen picks up pieces against Cardinals

Sunday, April 27, 2014

ST. LOUIS - Gaby Sanchez had two RBI in a four-run fourth inning and the Pittsburgh Pirates bullpen worked seven strong innings after starter Francisco Liriano left with flu-like symptoms and dizziness in a 6-1 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals on Saturday.

Matt Holliday had an RBI double for the Cardinals, who have mustered five runs in their last six games. They got three hits and a run in seven innings off five Pittsburgh relievers.

Yadier Molina was a bust on his jersey giveaway day, striking out with the bases loaded to end the third against Stolmy Pimentel (2-0) and popping out with runners on second and third to end the fifth against Jared Hughes. He entered batting .431 during a 15-game hitting streak.

Andrew McCutchen and Jose Tabata each added an RBI off Tyler Lyons (0-2) in the fourth, with the first four runners reaching safely after the lefty opened with three perfect innings. Tabata totaled three hits and is a career .345 hitter at Busch Stadium.

Tony Sanchez added a two-run single in the ninth off Eric Fornatoro after striking out his first three at-bats.

NATIONALS 4, PADRES 0 Tanner Roark pitched a three-hitter for the first complete game of his career as host Washington beat San Diego.Roark set down the first 16 batters before San Diego catcher Rene Rivera, an .074 batter entering the game, hit a single to center field with one out in the sixth inning.

BRAVES 4, REDS 1 Rookie right-hander David Hale allowed only two hits over eight innings and Atlanta beat visiting Cincinnati. Freddie Freeman, Justin Upton and Evan Gattis each hit home runs off Cincinnati’s Mike Leake (2-2).

BREWERS 5, CUBS 3 Jeff Bianchi had a two run single, and Marco Estrada (2-1) threw 7 2/3 strong innings to lead host Milwaukee past Chicago.

MARLINS 7, METS 6 Jarrod Saltalamacchia hit a hone run leading off the 10th inning, Giancarlo Stanton also went deep and visiting Miami rallied from four runs down to beat New York.

PHILLIES 6, DIAMONDBACKS 5 Pinch hitter Cody Asche hit a two-run double in Philadelphia’s four-run eighth inning and the Phillies rallied after a shaky start by Cliff Lee (Benton, Arkansas Razorbacks) to beat host Arizona.

AMERICAN LEAGUE

RED SOX 7, BLUE JAYS 6 A.J. Pierzynski hit his eighth career grand slam, Will Middlebrooks added a home run and visiting Boston held on to beat Toronto.

TWINS 5, TIGERS 3 Phil Hughes threw seven strong innings and Josmil Pinto hit his fifth home run of the season and host Minnesota beat Detroit.

YANKEES 4, ANGELS 3 John Ryan Murphy hit his first big league home run and drove in three runs, Dellin Betances earned his first victory in the majors and host New York beat Los Angeles.

ASTROS 7, ATHLETICS 6 Dexter Fowler hit a tie breaking RBI single in Houston’s fourrun eighth inning, and the Astros beat visiting Oakland. Fowler also had a home run as Houston snapped a three-game losing streak.

ORIOLES 3, ROYALS 2 Nick Markakis singled in the winning run in 10th inning after two throwing errors by pitcher Danny Duffy (1-1) laid the groundwork for Baltimore’s victory over visiting Kansas City.

RANGERS 6, MARINERS 3 Mitch Moreland drove in Prince Fielder with a tie breaking sacrifice fly in the eighth inning, and visiting Texas held off Seattle.

RAYS 4 WHITE SOX 0 Cesar Ramos and two relievers combined to five-hit Chicago in a victory by visiting Tampa Bay.

INTERLEAGUE GIANTS 5, INDIANS 3 Hunter Pence hit a two-run single in San Francisco’s four-run fifth inning, leading the Giants to a victory over visiting Cleveland.

Saturday’s games

NATIONAL LEAGUE Washington 4, San Diego 0 Pittsburgh 6, St. Louis 1 Milwaukee 5, Chicago Cubs 3 Atlanta 4, Cincinnati 1 Miami 7, NY Mets 6 (10) Philadelphia 6, Arizona 5 Colorado at LA Dodgers, (n)

AMERICAN LEAGUE NY Yankees 4, LA Angels 3 Boston 7, Toronto 6 Minnesota 5, Detroit 3 Baltimore 3, Kansas City 2 (10) Houston 7, Oakland 6 Tampa Bay 4, Chicago White Sox 0 Texas 6, Seattle 3

INTERLEAGUE San Francisco 5, Cleveland 3

Sports, Pages 28 on 04/27/2014