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PITTSBURGH ( LIRIANO )
SAN FRANCISCO ( HUDSON ) |
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| 905 | PITTSBURGH | -115 | Ov 7,+105 | -125 | Ov 7,-105 | | 906 | SAN FRANCISCO | +105 | Un 7,-125 | +115 | Un 7,-115 |
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| All Games | 28-24 | +0.5 | 22-23 | 4.2 | 0.253 | 0.303 | 0.387 | 0.690 | 3.5 | 0.245 | 0.304 | 0.349 | 0.653 | | Road Games | 13-15 | -2.4 | 10-13 | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.299 | 0.373 | 0.672 | 3.5 | 0.242 | 0.311 | 0.332 | 0.643 | | vs Right-handed Starters | 25-20 | +2.4 | 20-19 | 4.2 | 0.250 | 0.300 | 0.383 | 0.684 | 3.4 | 0.242 | 0.301 | 0.347 | 0.648 | | Past 7 Games | 5-2 | +3.2 | 4-1 | 5.0 | 0.279 | 0.330 | 0.414 | 0.744 | 4.1 | 0.246 | 0.293 | 0.346 | 0.639 | | Grass Games | 28-24 | +0.5 | 22-23 | 4.2 | 0.253 | 0.303 | 0.387 | 0.690 | 3.5 | 0.245 | 0.304 | 0.349 | 0.653 | | Day Games | 10-8 | +2 | 7-8 | 4.6 | 0.277 | 0.327 | 0.434 | 0.760 | 3.3 | 0.232 | 0.302 | 0.334 | 0.636 |
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| All Games | 4.2 | 0.253 | 0.303 | 52 | 1790 | 453 | 102 | 3 | 44 | 0.387 | 210 | 129 | 409 | 36 | 356 | 39 | 35 | 61 | 46 | | Road Games | 4.0 | 0.248 | 0.299 | 28 | 1003 | 249 | 58 | 2 | 21 | 0.373 | 107 | 73 | 255 | 21 | 211 | 18 | 26 | 33 | 30 | | Righty Starters | 4.2 | 0.250 | 0.300 | 45 | 1557 | 390 | 92 | 2 | 37 | 0.383 | 179 | 111 | 353 | 32 | 308 | 34 | 27 | 56 | 36 |
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| All Games | 2.65 | 1.209 | 159.7 | 55 | 47 | 143 | 11 | 50 | 143 | 4-11 | 16 | 5 | 76.2% | | Road Games | 2.30 | 1.349 | 86 | 28 | 22 | 80 | 5 | 36 | 81 | 1-8 | 7 | 4 | 63.6% |
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| All Games | 30-24 | +3.6 | 26-25 | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 0.404 | 0.731 | 3.9 | 0.249 | 0.305 | 0.389 | 0.694 | | Home Games | 16-13 | -1 | 11-17 | 3.2 | 0.258 | 0.318 | 0.370 | 0.687 | 3.3 | 0.236 | 0.291 | 0.342 | 0.633 | | vs Left-handed Starters | 8-3 | +6.9 | 3-8 | 3.6 | 0.268 | 0.328 | 0.400 | 0.728 | 2.8 | 0.230 | 0.282 | 0.350 | 0.632 | | Past 7 Games | 3-4 | -2.6 | 4-2 | 3.7 | 0.251 | 0.304 | 0.406 | 0.709 | 4.1 | 0.242 | 0.280 | 0.377 | 0.657 | | Grass Games | 30-24 | +3.6 | 26-25 | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 0.404 | 0.731 | 3.9 | 0.249 | 0.305 | 0.389 | 0.694 | | Day Games | 10-6 | +2.4 | 8-8 | 4.0 | 0.265 | 0.322 | 0.402 | 0.724 | 4.3 | 0.246 | 0.304 | 0.404 | 0.707 |
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| All Games | 4.1 | 0.270 | 0.327 | 54 | 1873 | 506 | 93 | 14 | 43 | 0.404 | 209 | 159 | 377 | 28 | 408 | 55 | 29 | 44 | 27 | | Home Games | 3.2 | 0.258 | 0.318 | 29 | 966 | 249 | 38 | 8 | 18 | 0.370 | 89 | 85 | 180 | 17 | 225 | 25 | 17 | 18 | 17 | | Lefty Starters | 3.6 | 0.268 | 0.328 | 11 | 370 | 99 | 13 | 3 | 10 | 0.400 | 39 | 33 | 87 | 10 | 86 | 12 | 7 | 12 | 3 |
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| All Games | 3.37 | 1.258 | 165.3 | 68 | 62 | 153 | 14 | 55 | 131 | 7-5 | 16 | 3 | 84.2% | | Home Games | 3.12 | 1.303 | 83.7 | 32 | 29 | 75 | 5 | 34 | 73 | 4-2 | 7 | 2 | 77.8% |
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| 5/20/2015 | LOCKE(L) | MINNESOTA | PELFREY(R) | 3-4 | L | -140 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 9 | 0 | 10 | 9 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | COLE(R) | NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | 4-1 | W | -170 | 6.5 ev | U | 7 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 3 | 1 | | 5/23/2015 | BURNETT(R) | NY METS | HARVEY(R) | 8-2 | W | -115 | 6.5 ov | O | 10 | 4 | 0 | 7 | 5 | 1 | | 5/24/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | NY METS | NIESE(L) | 9-1 | W | -180 | 7.5 un | O | 12 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 8 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | MORTON(R) | MIAMI | PHELPS(R) | 4-2 | W | -125 | 7.5 ev | U | 10 | 5 | 0 | 9 | 5 | 0 | | 5/26/2015 | LOCKE(L) | MIAMI | URENA(R) | 5-1 | W | -135 | 8 ev | U | 10 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 10 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | COLE(R) | MIAMI | HAND(L) | 5-2 | W | -195 | 7.5 un | U | 11 | 8 | 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | | 5/28/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | KENNEDY(R) | 11-5 | W | -125 | 6.5 ov | O | 15 | 7 | 2 | 9 | 6 | 1 | | 5/29/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | SHIELDS(R) | 2-6 | L | 100 | 6 ev | O | 6 | 8 | 1 | 7 | 6 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ SAN DIEGO | ROSS(R) | 5-2 | W | 105 | 7 un | P | 10 | 10 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | | 5/31/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ SAN DIEGO | DESPAIGNE(R) | 1-7 | L | 100 | 7 ov | O | 8 | 8 | 2 | 13 | 10 | 1 | | 6/1/2015 | COLE(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | VOGELSONG(R) | 4-3 | W | -125 | 7 un | P | 6 | 6 | 1 | 6 | 4 | 1 | | 6/2/2015 | BURNETT(R) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HESTON(R) | 7-4 | W | 110 | 7 un | O | 14 | 10 | 0 | 11 | 11 | 0 | | 6/3/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | @ SAN FRANCISCO | HUDSON(R) | | | 6/5/2015 | MORTON(R) | @ ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | LOCKE(L) | @ ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | | | 6/7/2015 | COLE(R) | @ ATLANTA | WOOD(L) | | | 6/8/2015 | BURNETT(R) | MILWAUKEE | CRAVY(R) | | | 6/9/2015 | LIRIANO(L) | MILWAUKEE | NELSON(R) | | | 6/10/2015 | | MILWAUKEE | | |
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| 5/20/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | LA DODGERS | ANDERSON(L) | 4-0 | W | +120 | 7 un | U | 7 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 8 | 1 | | 5/21/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | LA DODGERS | KERSHAW(L) | 4-0 | W | +120 | 6 un | U | 9 | 6 | 1 | 9 | 10 | 0 | | 5/22/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | @ COLORADO | KENDRICK(R) | 11-8 | W | -110 | 10 ov | O | 14 | 7 | 1 | 13 | 8 | 0 | | 5/23/2015 | HESTON(R) | @ COLORADO | LYLES(R) | 10-8 | W | -105 | 10 un | O | 14 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 6 | 2 | | 5/23/2015 | PETIT(R) | @ COLORADO | HALE(R) | 3-5 | L | -115 | 10.5 un | U | 9 | 6 | 0 | 9 | 8 | 2 | | 5/24/2015 | HUDSON(R) | @ COLORADO | BETTIS(R) | 2-11 | L | -125 | 10 ev | O | 6 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 6 | 0 | | 5/25/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | LOHSE(R) | 8-4 | W | 115 | 8.5 un | O | 13 | 8 | 0 | 5 | 5 | 2 | | 5/26/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | @ MILWAUKEE | GARZA(R) | 6-3 | W | -130 | 7.5 ov | O | 10 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 7 | 0 | | 5/27/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | @ MILWAUKEE | FIERS(R) | 3-1 | W | 110 | 8.5 un | U | 9 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 0 | | 5/28/2015 | HESTON(R) | ATLANTA | MILLER(R) | 7-0 | W | -130 | 6.5 un | O | 12 | 5 | 0 | 4 | 5 | 0 | | 5/29/2015 | HUDSON(R) | ATLANTA | FOLTYNEWICZ(R) | 4-2 | W | -145 | 7 un | U | 7 | 8 | 0 | 6 | 5 | 0 | | 5/30/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | ATLANTA | PEREZ(R) | 0-8 | L | -145 | 7 un | O | 8 | 11 | 1 | 14 | 7 | 1 | | 5/31/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | ATLANTA | TEHERAN(R) | 5-7 | L | -205 | 6.5 ov | O | 7 | 7 | 1 | 9 | 5 | 1 | | 6/1/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | PITTSBURGH | COLE(R) | 3-4 | L | +115 | 7 un | P | 6 | 4 | 1 | 6 | 6 | 1 | | 6/2/2015 | HESTON(R) | PITTSBURGH | BURNETT(R) | 4-7 | L | -120 | 7 un | O | 11 | 11 | 0 | 14 | 10 | 0 | | 6/3/2015 | HUDSON(R) | PITTSBURGH | LIRIANO(L) | | | 6/5/2015 | LINCECUM(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | WILLIAMS(R) | | | 6/6/2015 | BUMGARNER(L) | @ PHILADELPHIA | GONZALEZ(R) | | | 6/7/2015 | VOGELSONG(R) | @ PHILADELPHIA | O'SULLIVAN(R) | | | 6/9/2015 | HESTON(R) | @ NY METS | SYNDERGAARD(R) | | | 6/10/2015 | | @ NY METS | | |
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| |  | PITTSBURGH: PITTSBURGH (AP) - The scenario was familiar. The destination not so much.
A veteran player with not much time left leaving millions of dollars on the table for one last run to glory. Only A.J. Burnett didn't walk away from his $12.75 million player option with the Philadelphia Phillies for Los Angeles, Washington or St. Louis.
Nope, the 38-year-old well-traveled (and well tattooed) pitcher practically sprinted to Pittsburgh. His arrival in 2012 marked a sea change in the once-floundering organization's direction. His return three years later signals - he hopes - the end of the team's slow but steady slog from downtrodden afterthought to world champion. And he's not kidding.
''I want to win a ring and I want to win a ring in Pittsburgh,'' Burnett said.
The Pirates are as close to being in the conversation as they've been in nearly a quarter century. And they've opened up their wallets, at least a little, to get there. Pittsburgh made Francisco Liriano the highest-paid free agent in team history when they signed lefthander to a three-year, $39-million deal in the offseason to continue the career resurgence that began when they took a two-year flier on him in 2013. And while Burnett took a cut, he isn't exactly going broke. He'll make $8 million to work as the third man in the rotation behind Liriano and Gerrit Cole.
Pittsburgh even spent $5 million for the rights to sign Korean infielder Jung-Ho Kang, who hit 40 home runs on the other side of the world last year and gives the Pirates an intriguing if unproven option should shortstop Jordy Mercer falter or second baseman Neil Walker's back flare up.
General manager Neal Huntington remains adamant his team's budget will never compare to those of clubs in larger markets but allows there is ''more margin for error'' than in years' past.
''We've built a deeper club because of the money allocated to us,'' he said. ''But we need to continue to grow and mature. We want to put ourselves in a position to win the World Series.''
There are worse places to start than in Pittsburgh, which backed up its breakthrough year in 2013 with a second straight postseason berth in 2014. The playoff run ended abruptly against Madison Bumgarner and the San Francisco Giants in the NL wild card game. Yet the point had been made. The Pirates aren't going anywhere.
''It would've been easy to say 2013 was a fluke and we just got lucky,'' centerfielder Andrew McCutchen said. ''But we showed up in `14 and were able to do the same thing. We know we're for real. And other teams know they just can't come in (thinking), `All right, we're going to beat the Pirates.' We're not that team anymore.''
They're also not where they want to be, at least not yet. A National League Central title would avoid the fickleness of a one-game scenario. Pittsburgh believes it's built to withstand the rigors of October.
Here are the keys to getting there:
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THE OTHER FRANCISCO
The Pirates' budget might be growing, but they still couldn't afford to keep catcher Russell Martin, who parlayed his tremendous 2014 into a $82 million deal with Toronto. Pittsburgh prepared for Martin's departure by trading for longtime Yankees' backup catcher Francisco Cervelli. When healthy Cervelli is an adequate defensive replacement with a decent if not powerful bat. If he can handle the pitching staff and control the basepaths, any offense he provides would be a plus.
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SPEED TO BURN
Perennial MVP candidate McCutchen anchors one of baseball's most athletic outfields. Starling Marte surged toward the end of a bumpy 2014 and Gregory Polanco is a raw but talented work in progress. Pittsburgh felt confident enough in Polanco's progress to trade Travis Snider to Baltimore.
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PEDRO'S PROGRESS
Pedro Alvarez moves across the infield to first base in hopes of salvaging his career after developing a serious case of the yips at third. If his can reclaim the groove that helped him mash 36 homers in 2013, the Pirates can live with whatever growing pains may come with the switch.
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KANG SHOW
Kang (pronounced ''Gahng'') doesn't lack for confidence. He told reporters in Korea he believes he can supplant Mercer at shortstop. It may take longer than he thought after a sluggish spring training.
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THE VANIMAL
Vance Worley, like Liriano, Burnett and the since departed Edinson Volquez, thrived under pitching coach Ray Searage's mentoring last spring. He was arguably Pittsburgh's best starter down the stretch and a strong spring gives him a leg up in the battle Jeff Locke for the fifth starter spot. | | SAN FRANCISCO: SAN FRANCISCO (AP) - The San Francisco Giants lost Pablo Sandoval to big money and the Boston Red Sox. They missed out paying big money to left-hander Jon Lester, who instead signed with the Chicago Cubs.
While the reigning World Series champions are ready to shed that every-other-year title trend, plenty of people wonder whether general manager Brian Sabean and his staff did enough during the offseason to stay near the top in the talented NL West.
Ask manager Bruce Bochy and his players, and they consider the additions of healthy right-hander Matt Cain and center fielder Angel Pagan back into the mix as a big deal right up there with signing a prized free agent.
And, of course, they have World Series MVP Madison Bumgarner ready to build off his remarkable postseason.
As he addressed the team at the start of spring training, Bochy reminded the Giants that it's hard to win consistently year after year.
''We had a great year last year,'' Bochy said. ''We have to go about our business and get ready for a new year. We'll still enjoy and savor those memories but at the same time it's time for us to get ready. ... Your lock on success is as good as that last game, so we've got to get after it.''
Durable right fielder Hunter Pence is sidelined with a broken left forearm that could keep him out until early May, while left fielder Nori Aoki will join the team he lost to in last year's Fall Classic while with the Kansas City Royals.
Casey McGehee, traded to San Francisco from the Marlins, will take over at third base with Sandoval's departure on a $95 million, five-year contract to Boston. He has said he won't try to replace the formerly popular Kung Fu Panda.
''I feel like we get a lot of flak for not doing anything this offseason,'' shortstop Brandon Crawford said. ''We got Aoki, we got McGehee. We have Cain coming back healthy that I think a lot of people forget. We've got Pagan coming back healthy. It's almost like getting four new guys.''
Bochy joked to Aoki - whom he calls ''a catalyst'' - about hitting 30 home runs. The speedy Japanese outfielder responded, ''24.''
''We're playing for a championship,'' Aoki said. ''It's a passionate group of guys.''
Here are some things to look for with the Giants, who have captured three World Series titles in the past five years:
BUMGARNER'S NEXT STEP: Bumgarner threw 270 innings, including 21 with two wins and a save in the World Series.
He went 4-1 during the postseason following an 18-10 regular season. From his four-hit, 10-strikeout gem that got things started in an 8-0 wild-card win at Pittsburgh all the way through his brilliant relief outing in Game 7 of the World Series to beat the Royals, Bumgarner became one of the postseason's best pitchers ever.
''I think he'll be comfortable in his skin,'' pitching coach Dave Righetti said.
HUDSON'S HURRAH: This is it for Tim Hudson, who has said he will retire after his 17th major league season.
He won his first championship last year, advancing out of the first round for the first time.
Now, the 39-year-old pitcher is bouncing back from surgery to remove bone spurs from his right ankle, the same one he injured during the 2013 season with Atlanta that sidelined him for the final two months.
PAGAN'S BALKY BACK: Pagan arrived at spring training declaring himself pain-free for the first time in years following back surgery.
Despite some flare-ups, Pagan and the Giants are counting on a full season. He joked to Bochy that he's ready to play 160 games.
Pagan played in only 96 last season and 71 in 2013 because of injuries.
''It's a new slate for everybody, including him,'' Bochy said.
RELIABLE BULLPEN: San Francisco's bullpen is lined up again - Jeremy Affeldt, Javier Lopez, Sergio Romo and Santiago Casilla. Each of these pitchers has been part of all three title teams.
Casilla became closer after Romo struggled in June, though Bochy knows he can mix and match with these guys. Then, there's Yusmeiro Petit, who showed he can start or relieve with equal efficiency.
''You want to remind them to take advantage of what you have,'' Bochy said. ''We've got a great group here and we don't ever want to lose out on this opportunity.'' |
| | ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ PA SPORTSTICKER NL PREVIEW (PITTSBURGH-SAN FRANCISCO) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
*Pirates-Giants Preview* ========================
By TAYLOR BECHTOLD STATS Writer
Pittsburgh (28-24) at San Francisco (30-24), 3:45 p.m. EDT
Andrew McCutchen was still a top prospect with the Pittsburgh Pirates 22 months away from making his debut the last time they swept a road series from the San Francisco Giants.
Now an All-Star in the midst of a hot streak that has keyed their resurgence, he'll try to lead the Pirates to their 11th win in 13 games Wednesday when they again look to take three straight at AT&T Park.
Pittsburgh was a season-worst four games below .500 on May 20 following a 13-inning loss to Minnesota. McCutchen was batting .225 entering that contest, but went 3 for 5 with a game-tying home run in the eighth.
The Pirates (28-24) followed with a seven-game winning streak and haven't lost two in a row in their last 12 games, while McCutchen has batted .489 with 12 RBIs and a 1.416 OPS in his past 13.
The 2013 NL MVP continued his tear Tuesday with a season-high four hits - including a triple, double and two RBIs - in a 7-4 victory. He's gone 31 for 72 (.431) in his last 18 meetings with the Giants.
"I was fed up," McCutchen said of his slow start. "That's still how I feel and I'm not done yet."
He'll try to help Pittsburgh complete its first three-game sweep in San Francisco since Aug. 10-12, 2007. That might not be easy since he's 3 for 19 lifetime off scheduled starter Tim Hudson (3-4, 4.62 ERA).
The right-hander looks to help the Giants (30-24) avoid their fifth straight loss in the finale of this seven-game homestand.
He allowed eight runs over 3 2-3 innings in an 11-2 loss at Colorado on May 24, before yielding one run over seven in Friday's 4-2 home win over Atlanta. Hudson has given up one run in 13 1-3 innings in winning his last two home starts.
However, he's 1-5 with a 4.50 ERA in his last six starts against the Pirates.
Neil Walker has gone 5 for 16 in the matchup, while Pedro Alvarez is 4 for 13 with a home run. Walker and Alvarez went a combined 4 for 9 with three RBIs and Jordy Mercer hit his first home run Tuesday.
Pittsburgh's Francisco Liriano has regrouped since allowing seven runs in two innings in an 8-5 home loss to the Twins on May 19, winning his last two starts while giving up one run and striking out 23 over 12 innings.
Liriano (2-4, 3.47) surrendered three hits in six shutout innings Friday before he was pulled after 96 pitches and watched as the bullpen blew his lead in a 6-2 loss at San Diego.
The left-hander has been at his best on the road, going 1-1 with a 1.57 ERA in five starts. He's 2-1 with a 4.76 ERA versus San Francisco after allowing one run with 11 strikeouts over seven innings in a 3-1 road win July 29.
Buster Posey - who is expected to play first base - has gone 5 for 9 in the matchup, while Hunter Pence is 3 for 7 with two doubles. Posey had two RBIs, Pence had three hits and Brandon Crawford hit a two-run homer Tuesday.
San Francisco has batted .129 with runners in scoring position and totaled 12 runs during its longest losing streak since an eight-game slide in mid-April.
"That's what wins ballgames, is getting those timely hits," manager Bruce Bochy said.
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| | Last Updated: 4/19/2024 6:04:53 AM EST. |
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