|
 Polanco homered and drove in four runs and Worley allowed one run
in seven innings to lead the Pirates to a 5-2 victory over the New
York Mets on Thursday night, their fifth win in six games.
Polanco went 2-for-3 with a walk and is hitting .338 in 16 games.
The home run was the 22-year-old right fielder's second of the
season.
"He's a talented young man so I'm humble to have him on the club and
the opportunity to write his name in the lineup," Pirates manager
Clint Hurdle said. "It's a good time for him to be included on our
club and he's obviously been making a difference since he's been up
here."
Worley (2-0) scattered seven hits while walking two and striking out
three. He has given up four runs in 20 2/3 innings spanning three
starts since coming up from Indianapolis on June 15 after going 1-5
with a 7.21 ERA in 10 starts with the Minnesota Twins last season.
"It was a very solid body of work, a very professional effort,"
Hurdle said. "He'll be the first one to tell you he wasn't as sharp
as he'd been previously. You saw a man go out there and have to
wrestle a little bit and maintain composure, mound presence, and
just pound the zone."
Worley knew it would be a challenging night as soon as he started
warming up.
"It was a bad bullpen," he said. "I was hoping I used it all up out
there and had the good stuff out there (on the mound.)
Mets right-hander Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2) allowed five runs and five
hits in six innings with four walks and four strikeouts.
New York first baseman Lucas Duda hit his team-high 12th home run
for the Mets.
The Mets drew within 5-2 on back-to-back doubles by second baseman
Daniel Murphy and third baseman David Wright in the eighth, but
closer Mark Melancon pitched a perfect ninth for his 14th save.
Polanco belted his three-run homer, a line shot into the right field
stands, on a 3-2 pitch with two outs in the fifth inning to increase
the Pirates' lead to 5-1.
"I just go up there and fight, fight, fight and try to stay with my
approach," Polanco said.
Matsuzaka second-guessed himself for the pitch selection. Rookie
catcher Travis d'Arnaud called for a changeup but Matsuzka opted to
throw a slider.
"I shook off d'Arnaud and that ended up being a big mistake,"
Matsuzaka said through a translator. "I apologize to him about
that."
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Alert baserunning by center fielder Andrew McCutchen enabled the
Pirates to score a run in the bottom of the fourth and move in front
2-1.
With two outs and runners on first and third, first baseman Ike
Davis got caught in a rundown between first and second. Before the
Mets could tag Davis out, McCutchen raced home.
"You've got to make sure the runners stay on third base in that
situation," Mets manager Terry Collins said. "That's more important
than the other guy taking second."
Duda drew the Mets into a 1-1 tie in the top of the fourth by
slicing his home run down the right field line to lead off the
inning.
The Pirates opened the scoring in the first when shortstop Jordy
Mercer drew a leadoff walk and eventually scored on a groundout by
Polanco.
NOTES: New York activated CF Juan Lagares from the 15-day disabled
list before the game and optioned INF Wilmer Flores to Triple-A Las
Vegas. Lagares was out since June 2 with a right intercostal strain.
... Bobby Abreu got a start in left field for the Mets as OF Eric
Young Jr. was rested and manager Terry Collins tried to find a way
to juggle six outfielders with the return of Lagares. ... Pittsburgh
LF Starling Marte was not in the starting lineup for a second
consecutive game after experiencing concussion-like symptoms Tuesday
night while sliding into second base in a game at Tampa Bay. The
head and neck are no longer a problem, but Marte is still feeling
the effects of a jammed right middle finger. ... Pirates LHP
Francisco Liriano had a 30-pitch bullpen session, the first time he
threw off a mound since going on the DL on June 11 with a left
oblique strain. ... New York RHP Jacob deGrom (1-4, 3.75 ERA) will
face RHP Brandon Cumpton (3-2, 4.93) on Friday night in a matchup of
rookies.
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