Pittsburgh Pirates starting pitcher Francisco Liriano throws to the plate during the first inning of their baseball game against the Los Angeles Angels, Saturday, June 22, 2013, in Anaheim, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill) by Joe Resnick ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — The Pittsburgh Pirates have been making a lot of noise this season and are tempting their long-suffering fans again with the possibility of a winning season for the first time since rookie Gerrit Cole was still in diapers. Francisco Liriano took a shutout into the seventh inning, and Andrew McCutchen, Pedro Alvarez and Gaby Sanchez homered, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-1 victory over the Los Angeles Angels on Saturday night. "It was awesome just to be able to do that, and we had a lot of fun doing it," said McCutchen, who ended a homerless drought of 98 at-bats. "This is the way we should come out and play every day. We don't have to depend on just one or two guys. Everybody's coming through. To have a complete lineup like that from top to bottom is always fun."
Pittsburgh Pirates' Pedro Alvarez, right, hits a two-run home run in the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs, Saturday, June 8, 2013, in Chicago, Ill. (AP photo/Joe Raymond) CHICAGO (AP) — A.J. Burnett pitched into the ninth inning and Pedro Alvarez and Russell Martin homered to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 6-2 win over the Chicago Cubs on Saturday.
Pittsburgh Pirates' Starling Marte, left, Travis Snider, center, and Andrew McCutchen celebrate after a baseball game against the New York Mets at Citi Field,...
HOT HITTER--Pittsburgh Pirates' Russell Martin, right, is congratulated by teammate John McDonald after hitting a solo home run during the second inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Sunday, April 28, 2013, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Jeff Roberson) by R.B. Fallstrom ST. LOUIS (AP) — It was a milestone day for the Pittsburgh Pirates, who took the NL Central lead for the first time since last July and reached 15 wins in April for the first time since 1992.
RELIABLE RESERVE--Pittsburgh Pirates shortstop Josh Harrison throws to first base during a baseball spring training workout, Feb. 13, in Bradenton, Fla....
