Francisco Liriano pitched 5.2 scoreless innings and Ike Davis went 2-for-4 with a homer as the Pirates beat the Dodgers again on Saturday, 2-1.
Liriano struck out eight and walked two, and he got all the help he needed early. The third inning looked like it might be a bust -- Starling Marte got hit by a pitch and moved to second on Clint Barmes' walk, but then got picked off. Then Liriano struck out while trying to bunt. But Josh Harrison singled to move Barmes to second, and Walker brought him home with a single to right. Then in the fourth, Davis led off with his homer, a long line drive to center.
Liriano got into trouble in the fifth, loading the bases for Yasiel Puig, but Puig popped out to end the threat. Then Hanley Ramirez led off the sixth with a double, but Liriano got two outs and then gave way to Justin Wilson, who struck out Andre Ethier.
Mark Melancon gave up a run on a single, a groundout and a single in the eighth, but Jason Grilli (who entered the game in a standard spot for the closer -- it looks like he's back) recorded a 1-2-3 ninth.