A Gregory Polanco triple in the bottom of the eighth inning allowed the Pittsburgh Pirates to take a 3-2 victory against the San Diego Padres.
“It was a pretty swing and he had a lot of good swings all night,” manager Clint Hurdle said.
The victory ends a 14-series losing streak to the Padres at PNC Park.
“We can knock this one off our to-do list,” said Hurdle. “It’s a long time coming.”
Francisco Liriano had a ball deflect off his right arm and dealt with a long rain delay, however neither fazed him as he pitched six innings. Though he earned a no-decision, his six-inning performance kept the Pirates in the game while saving most of the team’s bullpen.
Liriano later conceded to reporters that the ball which hit his triceps got him pretty good, however despite this and the delay he was not bothered and ready to go.
“He’s a big, strong man and he wanted to pitch,” Hurdle said. “He’s tough.”
The game was delayed for one hour and 42 minutes in the top of the third inning with two outs. Liriano had a 2-0 count on Yonder Alonso during this time.
This rain delay affected the Padres as they removed Tyson Ross from the game after two innings and 27 pitches.
Alonso was able to walk in the third inning and both he and Derek Norris who reached base by fielder’s choice scored on a Matt Kemp double.
With Ross out of the game, Frank Garces pitched the third inning. Gregory Polanco drew a one-out walk to leadoff the inning, however was thrown out at second when he did not trail off first base enough on a Neil Walker fielder’s choice. The ball dropped just in front of Justin Upton who fired on to second base for the out.
The inning continued with an Andrew McCutchen RBI double which scored Walker. This hit gave McCutchen a career-best 14-game hitting streak.
Jung Ho Kang was hit by a pitch and Jordy Mercer singled to load the bases, however all three runners were stranded when Pedro Alvarez struck out.
The Pirates would tie the game in the fifth inning. Walker again reached first, this time with a leadoff single. McCutchen then hit a ball that Justin Upton robbed from two rows beyond the left field wall. One batter later however, Kang tripled off Marcos Mateo, a play that was assisted by Padres right fielder Matt Kemp misreading the ball. Kang held at third base after a Mercer ground out to second base and Alvarez flied out to end the inning.
McCutchen picked up his second hit of the evening with a seventh inning single. This brought his batting average to .301 on the season, his first time above .300 this season.
Polanco’s eighth inning triple scored Sean Rodriguez who was hit by a Joaquin Benoit pitch.
“It was the right time and the right moment,” said Polanco. “I was confident and not thinking to much. I wanted to see the ball and hit the ball.”
Mark Melancon earned his 28th save which leads all major league closers. He has now tied Joel Hanrahan’s 2011 club record of 26 consecutive saves converted.
Tony Watson earned the win to improve to 2-1 on the season while Benoit got the loss and is now 5-4..
The Pirates now find themselves 4.5 games behind the St. Louis Cardinals after the National League Central leader lost a double-header to the Chicago Cubs. This is the closest the Pirates have been to first place since June 18
This series will conclude Wednesday when Andrew Cashner [3-9 4.06 ERA] faces Charlie Morton [6-2 4.30 ERA]. Morton is 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA in six career starts against the Padres.
Of note: Hurdle stated that Francisco Cervelli was scratched from the lineup because of high activity. Hurdle compared it to the decision to remove Marte from Sunday’s game.
“I just felt it was right to give him a blow,” Hurdle said.
Photo courtesy: Jared Wickerham/Getty Images
