SAN FRANCISCO -- His left oblique no longer a painful obstacle, Francisco Liriano is starting to look like the dominant pitcher he was for Pittsburgh in 2013. With the Pirates in the thick of the race in the NL Central, the timing couldnt be better. Liriano struck out a season-high 11 in seven innings to win consecutive starts for the first time this season and Pittsburgh beat the San Francisco Giants 3-1 on Tuesday night. "I was just trying to hit my spots, make some good pitches," said Liriano, who last won consecutive starts nearly a year ago. "My last start and tonight, everythings getting better pitching-wise and Im getting ahead with the fastball." Josh Harrison hit a leadoff home run in the first inning and Travis Snider added a two-run shot in the second for the Pirates, who moved within one game of first-place Milwaukee in the NL Central. A former minor league prospect for the Giants, Liriano (3-7) gave up a home run to Mike Morse but was otherwise stellar while leading the surging Pirates to their eighth win in 11 games. The left-hander allowed four hits, walked one and retired 18 of the final 21 hitters he faced. More importantly, Liriano threw first-pitch strikes to 19 of the 26 hitters he faced. Hes 2-0 with a 0.95 ERA over the last three starts. "I thought it was his best outing," Pittsburgh manager Clint Hurdle said. "The fastball played so well, he was able to get them into a swing mode. This is a guy who was a huge part of the success we had last year. Thats why I felt it was important to get him up and running again." San Francisco lost its sixth straight, matching its longest skid of the season. Harrison hit a 3-2 pitch from Giants starter Tim Hudson off the facing off the brick wall in right field for his first career leadoff home run. Harrison is hitting .583 (7 for 12) with a double and three home runs over his past three games. Snider hit his seventh homer after Ike Davis reached on an infield single leading off the second. It was just enough to help the Pirates (57-49) move a season-high eight games over .500. Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his 20th save. Buster Posey had three of the Giants six hits, including a leadoff single in the ninth. Pablo Sandoval followed with a deep fly out to right before Melancon struck out Morse and pinch-hitter Travis Ishikawa. "Were sputtering with the offence," San Francisco manager Bruce Bochy said. "We just cant string together a few hits. We have to find a way. Its tough to go through this." Hudson (8-8) allowed six hits over seven innings and took his sixth loss in the last eight starts. NUMBERS The Pirates have won 17 consecutive games when scoring first. ... The Giants have lost eight of their last nine series at AT&T Park. ... Posey hadnt had a multi-hit game at home since June 26. ... Hudson is 1-6 with a 4.32 ERA over his past eight starts. POWER OUTTAGE San Francisco has scored just five runs over its past five games and has had four extra-base hits during that span. TRAINERS ROOM Pirates: Outfielder Starling Marte ran the bases but has not yet been cleared to play after being placed on the 7-day concussion list. Marte is eligible to come off the DL on Wednesday but no move is expected. Giants: Right-hander Matt Cain plans to meet with specialist Dr. James Andrews this week to get a second opinion on his injured elbow. Bochy said the move is precautionary and that surgery has not yet been discussed. ON DECK Tim Lincecum (9-7) pitches the finale for the Giants on Wednesday. Charlie Morton (5-10) goes for the Pirates, who are seeking their first sweep at San Franciscos waterfront ballpark since 2007. Cheap Jaguars Jerseys Authentic . The St. Louis Cardinals were scheduled to arrive in Boston in time for a workout on Tuesday afternoon. Much of Mondays discussion focused on Bostons lineup considerations as the series progresses, specifically when the venue shifts to St. Cheap Jacksonville Jaguars Jerseys . Thaddeus Young scored seven of his 25 points in the fourth quarter, Evan Turner added 22 points, and the 76ers hung on for their first road win since Nov. 1, beating the depleted Los Angeles Lakers 111-104 on Sunday night. http://www.cheapjaguarsjerseysauthentic.com/. Malone will become an unrestricted free-agent and as per the collective bargaining agreement, the Lightning will be responsible for two-thirds of the remainder of his contract over twice the length of the rest of the deal. Quincy Williams II Jersey . The 24-year-old Raley was 0-2 with a 9.00 ERA for Chicago in his first two career starts after being called up from Iowa on Aug. 7. He was optioned to Iowa on Monday after losing 3-0 to Cincinnati in Chicago on Sunday. Josh Allen Jersey . No, the San Antonio star didnt announce retirement plans during an off day at the NBA Finals on Wednesday.NEWBURGH, Ind. -- Ben Martin two-putted for par on the first playoff hole Monday to win the Web.com Tours United Leasing Championship. It was Martins first career win. Martin drew the leadoff spot in a four-man playoff and played the 18th hole perfectly. A 3-wood into the fairway was followed by a 6-iron on the green and two putts for a par-4 that was good enough to beat Joe Affrunti, Ashley Hall and Billy Hurley. The four were tied at 11-under 277 following the end of regulation play Sunday but a nearly four-hour rain delay didnt leave them enough daylight for the overtime session. "I woke up at 5:30 this morning and was ready to go," said Martin, who had a 5-under 67 Sunday. "I knew they were calling for rain, but were used to playing this waiting game.dddddddddddd" The four had to wait a little longer when morning rains pushed the scheduled start of the playoff back an hour and 20 minutes as maintenance crews worked to make the 18th hole playable at Victoria National Golf Club, which had more than nine inches of rain fall during the week. "When I drew a number and saw it was number one I was pretty pleased," said Martin, who won $108,000 and moved to No. 4 on the money list. "Its such a tough drive because right is in the water and left is in the rough or the bunker. I was happy to get it out of the way and that probably did put a little pressure on them." 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