Pirates Vs. Giants: Andrew McCutchen And Neil Walker Have Big Days In 13-2 Win

The Pittsburgh Pirates offense ended the first half of the season on a red-hot note, scoring 13 runs on 17 hits in a 13-2 drubbing of the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

The Pirates were paced on offense by Andrew McCutchen and Neil Walker. McCutchen showed why he was a wise selection for the Home Run Derby with a two home run performance knocking in four runs. Neil Walker finished the day 5-for-5 with two RBIs and four runs scored.

The Pirates scored runs in every inning except the first, chasing Tim Lincecum out of the game after just 3.1 innings where he allowed six earned runs on seven hits.

A.J. Burnett was nearly flawless on the mound, going 6.1 innings, allowing two runs on four hits while striking out five. A two-run homer by Pablo Sandoval in the seventh was his only hiccup. Brad Lincoln went the final 2.2 innings out of the bullpen.

With the win, the Pirates are guaranteed sole possession of first place in the NL Central at the All-Star Break.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nation for all the latest news for all 30 teams as the trade deadline nears, and the pennant races heat up.

Giants Vs. Pirates: Lineups For Sunday's Rubber Match Between Pittsburgh And San Francisco

The Pittsburgh Pirates (47-37) and San Francisco Giants (46-39) square off on Sunday at PNC Park in the final game before the All-Star break. Each team has won a game in this three game weekend set, with Sunday's victor capturing the series.

Here is the full Pittsburgh lineup, via Dejan Kovacevic of the Pittsburgh Tribune-Review:

#Pirates today vs. #SFGiants: #DREWSUTTON 7, Walker 4, McCutchen 8, Jones 9, McGehee 3, Alvarez 5, Barajas 2, Barmes 6, Burnett 1

— Dejan Kovacevic (@Dejan_Kovacevic) July 8, 2012

The Giants lineup, via the team's official twitter feed:

#SFGiants lineup: Blanco rf, Theriot 2b, Cabrera lf, Posey 1bSandoval 3b, Pagan cf, Sanchez c, Crawford ss, Lincecum p

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) July 8, 2012

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nation for all the latest news for all 30 teams as the trade deadline nears, and the pennant races heat up.

Giants Vs. Pirates: Bucs Face Struggling Tim Lincecum In Last Game Before All-Star Break

Tim Lincecum faces A.J. Burnett at 1:35 on Sunday as the Pirates prepare to enter the All-Star break at least tied for first place in the NL Central.

Burnett struggled through his last start, against the Astros, but that's nothing compared to what Lincecum has been through this season. The once-dominant righty has a 6.08 ERA and has been wildly inconsistent all season. His velocity is way off this year (he's lost about two MPH on his fastball compared to last season), and he's having lots of trouble with runs on base, leading to big innings.

Lincecum's last outing, in which he allowed seven earned runs in 3.1 innings against the Washington Nationals, was awful, but the Giants are (understandably, given his history) sticking by him, starting him not only against the Bucs on Sunday but in the Giants' second game after the All-Star break.

After beating the Giants Saturday, the Pirates have a one-game lead on the Cincinnati Reds.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles.

Pirates Vs. Giants: James McDonald Powers Pittsburgh To 3-1 Win

The Pittsburgh Pirates topped the San Francisco Giants on Saturday afternoon at PNC Park by a score of 3-1, thanks in large part to their pitching.

Over seven innings, starter James McDonald scattered just four hits and allowed one run, while striking out 10 batters. It was his fourth straight start where he earned the win, while his ERA also dipped to 2.37. Then, Jason Grilli would strike out three batters in a scoreless eighth inning and closer Joel Hanrahan, pitching the ninth, recorded the save, his 23rd of the season.

The Pirates' offensive production would come in the third, fourth and sixth, highlighted by a solo homer to left field from Michael McKenry.

The rubber-match finale is scheduled for Sunday at 1:35 p.m. EST. A.J. Burnett will be on the hill for Pittsburgh.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nation for all the latest news for all 30 teams.

Pirates Vs. Giants: Lineups For Saturday's Game

The Pittsburgh Pirates dropped the first of their three games against the San Francisco Giants on Friday by a final score of 6-5 and they'll be looking to even things up on Saturday afternoon at PNC Park.

Both clubs have announced their lineups and the Bucs have shaken up their lineup just a bit in comparison from Friday:

Today's lineup vs. SF: Sutton 7, Walker 4, McCutchen 8, Jones 9, McGehee 3, Alvarez 5, McKenry 2, Barmes 6, McDonald 1

— Pittsburgh Pirates (@Pirates) July 7, 2012

Here's the Giants lineup for Saturday:

Todays #SFGiants lineup: Blanco rf, Theriot 2b, Cabrera lf, Posey c, Sandoval 3b, Pagan cf, Belt 1b, Crawford ssVogelsong p

— San Francisco Giants (@SFGiants) July 7, 2012

First pitch will take place at 4:05 p.m., EST.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nationfor all the latest news for all 30 teams as the trade deadline nears, and the pennant races heat up.

Giants Vs. Pirates: Familiar Face Ryan Vogelsong Faces Pittsburgh On Saturday

The Pittsburgh Pirates (46-37) will look to shake off a loss on Friday evening when they host the San Francisco Giants (46-38) on Saturday at PNC Park, with just two games remaining before the MLB All-Star Break.

James McDonald (8-3, 2.45 ERA) will be on the mound for Pittsburgh. McDonald has won his last three starts, receiving 26 runs in the process. In his career, he is 1-3 with a 3.97 ERA in four starts against San Francisco.

Former Pirate Ryan Vogelsong (7-3, 2.26 ERA) will take the hill for San Francisco. As a member of the Pittsburgh organization, Vogelsong posted a putrid 6.94 ERA in 33 starts over four season, but has been a revelation as a member of the Giants staff. San Francisco has won 10 of Vogelsong's past 11 starts headed into Saturday's game. In his career, he is 1-2 with a 4.76 ERA in three starts against the Pirates.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nation for all the latest news for all 30 teams as the trade deadline nears, and the pennant races heat up.

Pirates Vs. Giants Final Score: Bucs Lose 6-5

Suddenly, the Pirates looked up and they weren't playing the doormat of the NL Central Houston Astros anymore. They had the Giants on Friday and dropped a 6-5 decision after a five-run fourth inning against Erik Bedard propelled the Giants above Pittsburgh in their weekend series opener.

The Pirates drew first blood with an RBI single from Andrew McCutchen in the first inning. Then, McCutchen followed that up in the third with a RBI triple, before he came home on a Neil Walker double.

But the fourth inning belonged to San Francisco, and ultimately so did the game. The Pirates managed to add two runs later on homers by Casey McGehee and Pedro Alvarez, but it wasn't enough.

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nation for all the latest news for all 30 teams as the trade deadline nears, and the pennant races heat up.

Pirates Vs. Giants: Lineups For Friday's Game

The Pittsburgh Pirates will look to continue their winning ways on Friday night, as they begin a three-game series against the San Francisco Giants at PNC Park. First pitch is scheduled for 7:05 p.m. as Pirates starter Erik Bedard will look to end his recent struggles against Giants starter Barry Zito.

Here are the lineups for today's game.

San Francisco Giants

Justin Christian RF
Ryan Theriot 2B
Melky Cabrera LF
Buster Posey 1B
Pablo Sandoval 3B
Angel Pagan CF
Hector Sanchez C
Joaquin Arias SS
Barry Zito P

Pittsburgh Pirates

Josh Harrison SS
Drew Sutton RF
Andrew McCutchen CF
Casey McGehee 1B
Neil Walker 2B
Pedro Alvarez 3B
Rod Barajas C
Gorkys Hernandez LF
Erik Bedard P

For more on the Pirates, check out Bucs Dugout. For more on the Giants, there's McCovey Chronicles. Still not enough baseball for you? Make sure to head over to Baseball Nation for all the latest news for all 30 teams as the trade deadline nears, and the pennant races heat up.

Giants Vs. Pirates: Bucs Try To Finish First Half Strong

On Friday night, the Pirates begin their last series before the All-Star break.