VIDEO: Liriano collects 12 strikeouts to help Pirates sweep Mets

Francisco Liriano just wanted to fit in.

After watching fellow starters Gerrit Cole and A.J. Burnett record 10 strikeouts apiece over the last two days, lifting the Pittsburgh Pirates to a couple resounding victories over the New York Mets, the veteran left-hander delivered an even stronger performance Sunday to help his team secure a three-game sweep.

Liriano notched 12 strikeouts over six innings Sunday afternoon at PNC Park, guiding the Pirates to a decisive 9-1 victory just five days after laboring through his worst outing of the season. Though he was chased after just two innings Tuesday against the Minnesota Twins, the 31-year-old allowed just one run on six hits and two walks Sunday while recording his sixth career start with at least 12 strikeouts.

(Courtesy: MLB.com)

Liriano also raised his strikeout rate to almost 29 percent after disposing of the Mets, a figure that would've ranked sixth among qualified starters heading into Sunday.