Giants lose to Pirates again 3-1 (w/video) Giants lose to Pirates again 3-1

SAN FRANCISCO - The putrid stretch at AT&T Park hit a new low Tuesday night.

A 3-1 loss to the Pittsburgh Pirates dropped the Giants to 0-5 on the homestand. They had not dropped the first five games of a homestand since their first one at AT&T Park, April 11-15, 2000.

A night after getting shut out on 100 pitches, the Giants mustered just six hits and struck out 13 times against former San Francisco farmhand Francisco Liriano and two Pirates relievers. Liriano struck out 11 in seven strong innings.

Tim Hudson got off to a rough start but had a solid night overall. Josh Harrison kicked things off with a leadoff homer to right, and Travis Snider hit a two-run shot in the second, but Hudson would allow just two hits the rest of the way while getting through seven innings for the 13th time in 21 starts.

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.

Hudson (8-8) allowed six hits over seven innings and took his sixth loss in the last eight starts.

While the Giants weren’t able to give Hudson any help, they surely are encouraged by the way he feels as the weather heats up. Hudson has thrown a season-high 114 pitches in each of his last two starts and has given up just four earned runs in three starts.

NOTEBOOK

The Giants made another flurry of moves. Veteran first baseman Travis Ishikawa had his contract purchased, and outfielder Juan Perez was recalled from Triple-A.

Infielder Adam Duvall was optioned back to the Fresno Grizzlies, and infielder Tony Abreu was designated for assignment.

Ishikawa was drafted by the Giants in 2002 and spent parts of four seasons in the big leagues. His final season with the Giants was 2010, when he made 116 appearances for a team that would go on to win a title. Manager Bruce Bochy said he would primarily be used as a pinch hitter.

“Until we think (Brandon) Belt is ready to go, he’ll give us a left-handed bat and an option at first base,” Bochy said.

Ishikawa was hitting .271 with 11 homers for the Grizzlies and had a .361 average and three home runs over his last 10 games in the minors.

Perez has been called up four times this season, hitting just .156 while serving mostly as a defensive replacement.

Bochy said Duvall was sent down because Buster Posey may play more first base than usual while the Giants wait for Belt to return. Posey has started every game of the second half, and Bochy is closely tracking his workload.

Andrew Susac started behind the plate Tuesday night.

Belt played catch and took swings off a tee and could be cleared to return to a lineup this weekend. The Giants are still trying to decide if Belt will go out on a short rehab assignment.