The Pittsburgh Pirates limped home at the end of a miserable road trip after the All-Star break early Thursday morning hoping to recapture some of the momentum that led to their two-month surge up the standings. A pregame trade for a familiar face sent the message that help was on the way. An even more familiar one shook off an achy neck and shut down the Washington Nationals. Francisco Liriano allowed three hits over six-plus dominant innings and the Pirates raced by the Nationals 7-3 on Thursday night. Liriano, scratched from a start in Milwaukee over the weekend with a neck injury, struck out 11 against three walks as Pittsburgh snapped a seven-game losing streak to Washington. Read more http://espn.go.com/mlb/recap?gameId=350723123
