PITTSBURGH - Francisco Liriano stressed fastball command to both sides of the plate as his recipe for success tonight as the Pirates defeated the Cincinnati Reds 5-1 tonight at PNC Park.
Liriano exited the game with two outs and two on in the seventh inning after throwing 109 pitches (72 strikes), striking out six and walking none in his 6.2 innings of work. The improved command was an encouraging sign for Liriano, who had allowed 17 walks through his first four starts.
“That was an area of focus for him, to pound the zone better, more pitch efficiency,” Clint Hurdle said after the game, noting that Liriano faced only three, three-ball counts this evening.