Panik Leads Red-Hot Giants Over Pirates
PITTSBURGH (AP) -- Joe Panik hit a bases-loaded triple, Mac Williamson launched a 446-foot home run and the San Francisco Giants beat the Pittsburgh Pirates 5-3 Thursday for their 12th win in 14 games.
The Giants took three of four at PNC Park. Pittsburgh has lost 11 of 14, dropped to 5-17 in June and fell five games under .500.
After hitting a key double late in Wednesday night's win, Panik put the Giants ahead 3-1 with his triple in the third inning. Williamson followed with an RBI single.
Williamson connected for his second home run of the season in the sixth.
Albert Suarez (3-1) gave up two earned runs and four hits in five innings.
Suarez threw a season-high 102 pitches in his fourth start of the season while filling in for the injured Matt Cain. He struck out six.
Santiago Casilla struck out three in the ninth for his 16th save.
The Giants' bullpen shut down the Pirates for the second consecutive game. George Kontos, Hunter Strickland, Cory Gearrin and Casilla combined to pitched four scoreless innings a day after the Giants used five relievers to pitch six shutout innings.
Jonathon Niese (6-5) was tagged for five runs in six innings.
Gregory Polanco hit two sacrifice flies for the Pirates. Josh Harrison added an RBI triple.
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