Liriano, McCutchen lead Pirates to 5-4 win

Francisco Liriano, Andrew McCutchen and the Pirates knocked out their 83rd win by beating the Rangers Tuesday night, 5-4.

Liriano went six innings, striking out five and walking two while allowing one run. Meanwhile, McCutchen knocked in a run in the third when he hit a grounder up the middle that struck pitcher Martin Perez. Then the Pirates scored three in the fifth when four straight batters had two-out hits.

The Rangers scored their run off Liriano in the fifth and another off Jason Grilli in the eighth. But the Pirates got one back in the ninth on another ground-ball single by McCutchen. Uncharacteristically, Mark Melancon allowed two runs in the ninth, but he struck out Adrian Beltre with two outs and two men on to end the threat.

McCutchen finished 3-for-5 with three runs batted in. Jordy Mercer, hitting in the No. 2 spot, went 4-for-5.