Prior to Monday afternoon’s game, it was unclear if Pittsburgh Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco would have the chance to be in the starting lineup. By game’s end, the answer was fairly clear.
Polanco homered twice in a 4-2 victory against the St. Louis Cardinals.
His first home run gave the Pirates a 2-1 advantage and came in the sixth inning off Cardinals starting pitcher Carlos Martinez. John Jaso, who doubled to lead off the inning, also scored on the play.
The second homer came in the eighth inning and was a solo home run off Seth Maness. These were his 11th and 12th home runs of the season.
Polanco entered the game a .344 career hitter at Busch Stadium with 22 hits in 64 at-bats.
Jonathon Niese (7-6) picked up the win allowing one run on seven hits in 5.2 innings pitched. He recorded seven ground-ball outs in his outing.
Niese’s lone miscue was a fifth inning single from Matt Carpenter that scored Jedd Gyorko.
The other Pirates run was scored in the seventh on a Jaso RBI single.
Pirates closer Mark Melancon was unavailable as he pitched in all three games against the Oakland Athletics so Juan Nicasio and Neftali Feliz came on for the save.
Feliz did earn the save, his first of the season, but in the process allowed Carpenter to double in Kolten Wong. This snapped a streak of 35 consecutive innings by the Pirates bullpen without allowing a run which was the longest streak by any major league bullpen this season.
This win places the Pirates at 42-41 on the season and above .500 for the first time since June 15.
Erik Fryer was available off the bench but did not play. With Fryer joining the major league roster, Chris Stewart was placed on the disabled list with left knee discomfort.
The second meeting in a four-game series will occur Tuesday as Steven Brault (2-3, 2.57 ERA in Triple-A Indianapolis) will face Mike Leake (5-6, 4.13 ERA).
Jameson Taillon was expected to start Tuesday’s game but was instead placed on the disabled list with right shoulder fatigue.
Taillon is 2-1 with a 3.86 ERA in five starts as a Pirate. The Pirates will start pitcher Steven Brault in Taillon’s place.
Photo credit: @Pirates
