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Here's a thread to discuss last night's 5-3 Pirates win over the Brewers. Some highlights:
-P- Francisco Liriano struck out 13 batters and walked none, thanks mostly to a nasty slider. It was easily his best start of the season, and a very welcome return to the flashes of dominance he enjoyed prior to 2016, and he enjoyed a standing ovation upon his departure in the seventh. If he were to continue pitching like he did from 2013-15 on a more permanent basis, he'd provide the Pirates with a huge boost down the stretch.
-P- Matt Joyce was a late addition to the lineup (Starling Marte was pulled with the flu), and he helped the Bucs immediately with a line-drive, three-run homer over the Clemente Wall after Matt Garza walked Gregory Polanco and Andrew McCutchen in the first. Joyce added an RBI groundout in the third.
-P- Liriano did give up a solo homer to Jonathan Villar in the third and a pair of runs in the seventh. From there, Neftali Feliz, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon combined for 2.1 scoreless innings.
-P- The Pirates went to 49-46 with the victory. They're now three games back in the Wild Card race. The Dodgers, Marlins and Cardinals also won, and the Mets were off, as were the Cubs, who lead the NL Central by 6.5 games.