Jorge Lopez did a two-month stint in the bullpen, and now the right-hander is performing like the pitcher who earned a spot in the starting rotation at the beginning of the season.
Lopez pitched six innings of four-hit ball and Hunter Dozier homered, leading the Kansas City Royals to a 3-0 victory over the Miami Marlins on Friday night.
Royals: LHP Danny Duffy (5-6, 4.89) will start the middle game of the series Saturday.
Adam Frazier capped Pittsburgh’s six-run seventh inning with a two-run triple, and the Pirates rallied to beat the St. Louis Cardinals 9-4 on Friday night.
Last-place Pittsburgh scored each of its runs in the seventh with two outs. Josh Bell hit a two-run single off Andrew Miller. After run-scoring hits by pinch hitter Melky Cabrera and José Osuna, Frazier made it 7-4 when he tripled high off the 21-foot wall in right field.
The Chicago Cubs also lost on Friday, so St Louis still leads the NL Central by 3 games.
Cardinals: RHP Adam Wainwright (10-9, 4.30 ERA) will start Saturday night.