Gregory Polanco drove in four runs and had an outfield assist in the Pirates series-clinching 7-2 victory over the Marlins on Thursday night.
The rookie right fielder helped the Pirates (61-53) establish a comfortable 3-0 lead in the fourth when he drove in his first two runs of the night. With runners on second and third and one out, the Marlins pitched around Jayson Nix to set up a lefty on lefty matchup between Marlins starter Brian Flynn and Polanco. Polanco worked a 2-0 count before fouling off the next two pitches to the left side. Flynn’s fifth pitch of the at bat didn’t get outside enough and Polanco laced it into left field.
“I was just trying to see the ball and not hurry with my swing,” said Polanco. “I tried to see the ball and he was throwing really good. That’s why I was fouling off so many balls.”
Polanco then made the defensive play of the night in the fifth with runners on first and second and one out. Adeiny Hechavarria hit a popup into foul ground where Polanco was able to make a catch against the stadium railing. Marlins catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia tried to tag and go to third, but Polanco threw a perfect flat-footed frozen rope to Nix for the inning-ending double play.
“I didn’t know he was going to go, he’s a catcher,” said Polanco. “I heard Michael [Martinez] yell to me ‘he dug, he dug.’, so I just threw it.”
Polanco finished his stellar night with some insurance for the Pirates in the eighth. With runners on the corners and one out, Polanco ripped a 2-RBI double into the right-center field gap to put an exclamation mark on his night.
Edinson Volquez had had himself a night, as well, throwing seven innings of one-hit ball.
Volquez had a no-hitter going with one out in the fifth inning before Donovan Solano knocked a grounder through the left side of the infield to break it up. The single didn’t harm him though, as he retired the final seven batters he faced.
Volquez tried a different pace tonight, not taking as much time between pitches to correct his rhythm.
“I talked to Ray [Searage] about that and he told me to not take as much time between pitches and walk around the mound and that’s what I did tonight, especially with [Russell] Martin. We were on the same page and kept the rhythm going.”
The Marlins did get on the board against Stolmy Pimentel with two outs in the ninth when Giancarlo Stanton deposited a 1-2 fastball into the right-center field seats.
Final Score: Pirates 7, Marlins 2.
There was one horrifying moment that occurred in the bottom of the seventh. With Dan Jennings pitching, Jordy Mercer hit a liner back at him glancing off of his head and into the air. After a tense couple of minutes, he was able to walk to sit himself on the trainers cart and gave the fans a thumbs up as he was driven off the field.
Mercer was visibly shaken by the events and hopes Jennings a speedy recovery.
“You watch it unfold and you have a pretty good idea of what happened and you’re just telling yourself you hope he gets up, hope he can get up and hope he’s fine,” said Mercer.
A CT Scan of his head came back negative and he was diagnosed with a concussion. He will remain in the hospital in Pittsburgh overnight.
Starters Lines
Volquez (W, 9-7): 7 IP 1 H, 3 BB, 7 K’s. 106 Pitches (65 Strikes).
Flynn (L, 0-1): 4+ IP, 8 H, 5 R, 5 ER, 2 BB, 3 K’s, 1 WP. 87 Pitches (56 Strikes).
The Pirates take the series and now focus on the Padres, who come into PNC Park tomorrow night.
Tomorrow’s Starters
(RHP) Vance Worley (PIT): 4-1, 2.43 ERA
(RHP) Ian Kennedy (SD): 8-9, 3.59 ERA
First pitch is set for 7:05.
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(Photo Credit: Getty Images)
