After spending the better part of a week thinking about Francisco Liriano, worrying about Francisco Liriano, and fighting with people on the internet about Francisco Liriano, Liriano went out and laid a gigantic egg against his old team last night. The thing that is probably most relevant about Liriano’s season to this point is this: Liriano has given up eight home runs in 47 2/3 innings this year. Last year he gave up 13 in 162 1/3. Two years ago he gave up nine in 161. This is not going well.
Liriano’s implosion wasted a decent offensive night from the Pirates, though they did strike out 11 times in nine innings against a pitching staff that came in with a K-rate of something like 5.5/9 innings. Good thing they were facing Ricky Nolasco and not Corey Kluber last night, I guess.
The Pirates have lost five of six now. They are a mess.
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