Harrison, Snider, Liriano key Pirates' 6-1 win

Francisco Liriano pitched seven innings, and the Pirates' offense, led by Josh Harrison and Travis Snider, got to the Dodgers early as the Bucs won 6-1 on Wednesday.

The Pirates scored four quick runs off a struggling Dan Haren in the first. Gregory Polanco and Snider both singled, and after Andrew McCutchen lined out, Neil Walker walked to load the bases. Haren then walked Russell Martin to bring home a run, making it the second time in two nights that the Dodgers walked a batter with the bases loaded. Ike Davis lifted a sacrifice fly to left to bring home a runner, and Harrison brought home the other two by spiking a double to left.

The Pirates scored a fifth run when Snider hit a solo homer in the second. Snider got off to a poor start this season and hasn't completely left it behind, and he's been so anonymous even lately that Greg Brown mistook him for Brent Morel at one point in tonight's broadcast. But he's actually been hitting quite well recently, and tonight he went 2-for-3 with a homer, a walk and three runs scored.

Meanwhile, after a shaky first inning, Liriano settled in nicely, not allowing a hit until Miguel Rojas doubled in the fifth. Liriano wasn't that sharp -- his command wasn't exceptional, and he benefited from some nice defensive plays, particularly from Jordy Mercer at shortstop and Harrison at third base. But he got the job done, pitching seven innings and allowing one run (after allowing the first two batters to reach in the sixth) while striking out four and walking two.

The newly recalled Morel pinch-hit for Liriano in the bottom of the seventh and got his first hit of the year, on a single to left. Polanco grounded into a double play, but Snider walked (there he is again!) and chugged all the way around from first on McCutchen's double. That made it 6-1. Justin Wilson and Jared Hughes took the eighth and ninth, respectively.

Oh, and a weird little detail -- one of the pierogies in the pierogi race fell near the finish line in what appeared to be a faked injury. If you're wondering why pierogies were all over your Twitter account, that's why.

The Pirates improved to 54-47, two and a half games back of Milwaukee and a half game back of St. Louis.