PHOENIX (AP) -- Francisco Liriano pitched effectively into the seventh inning in a combined three-hitter and the Pittsburgh Pirates completed their first sweep in Arizona with an 8-0 win over the Diamondbacks on Sunday.Making his 200th career start, Liriano (1-1) offset six walks with seven strikeouts and allowed two hits in 6 1-3 innings. He has now beaten 29 of the 30 teams in the majors.Pedro Alvarez hit a two-run single off Jeremy Hellickson (1-3) in the first inning and Neil Walker added a two-run double off the right-hander in the fifth. Gregory Polanco had three of Pittsburgh's 14 hits and scored three runs. 
Walker also had three hits, finishing the series 7 for 12.Pittsburgh has won five straight and eight of 10.Liriano has been sharp dating to the end of last season, allowing three earned runs or less in 10 straight starts.He hasn't had much luck turning those quality starts into wins this season, though, losing to Detroit on April 15 after the Pirates were shut out and getting two no-decisions.The left-hander had another good outing, keeping Arizona's hitters off-balance with his slow breaking balls.Liriano, who has never faced Miami, was lifted after walking two with one out in the seventh. Jared Hughes ended the threat with a quick inning-ending double play.The Pirates gave him a cushion right out of the gate against Hellickson.The Arizona right-hander has struggled in the first inning this season, allowing four of his nine runs heading into Sunday's game in the opening frame.The right-hander stumbled through the first again, loading the bases with the first three batters he faced to set up Alvarez's two-run single.Hellickson ran into trouble again in the fifth inning, when Walker hit a two-run double to put the Pirates up 4-0.Hellickson allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out six in 4 2-3 innings to end Arizona's run of quality starts at nine straight games.
Walker also had three hits, finishing the series 7 for 12.Pittsburgh has won five straight and eight of 10.Liriano has been sharp dating to the end of last season, allowing three earned runs or less in 10 straight starts.He hasn't had much luck turning those quality starts into wins this season, though, losing to Detroit on April 15 after the Pirates were shut out and getting two no-decisions.The left-hander had another good outing, keeping Arizona's hitters off-balance with his slow breaking balls.Liriano, who has never faced Miami, was lifted after walking two with one out in the seventh. Jared Hughes ended the threat with a quick inning-ending double play.The Pirates gave him a cushion right out of the gate against Hellickson.The Arizona right-hander has struggled in the first inning this season, allowing four of his nine runs heading into Sunday's game in the opening frame.The right-hander stumbled through the first again, loading the bases with the first three batters he faced to set up Alvarez's two-run single.Hellickson ran into trouble again in the fifth inning, when Walker hit a two-run double to put the Pirates up 4-0.Hellickson allowed four runs on seven hits and struck out six in 4 2-3 innings to end Arizona's run of quality starts at nine straight games.
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
