Pirates at Giants
The Pittsburgh Pirates aim for their fifth win in six outings as they continue their six-game road trip with the middle contest of their three-game set against the San Francisco Giants on Tuesday. Pittsburgh posted an 8-5 victory in the series opener to remain one game behind Miami and St. Louis for the second wild-card spot in the National League.
Gregory Polanco delivered a go-ahead two-run single in the fourth inning and belted a two-run homer in the sixth to complete his first multi-hit performance since going 4-for-5 against Seattle on July 26. San Francisco fell to 1-3 on its 10-game homestand and saw its lead over the second-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the NL West shrink to one-half game. Denard Span has been one of the few bright spots for the Giants during their stretch of home games, going 6-for-20 with a homer and six RBIs. Following the homestand, San Francisco heads to Los Angeles for a three-game showdown for the top spot in the division.
TV: 10:15 p.m. ET, ROOT (Pittsburgh), CSN Bay Area (San Francisco)
PITCHING MATCHUP: Pirates RH Jameson Taillon (3-2, 2.85 ERA) vs. Giants RH Jeff Samardzija (10-8, 4.23)
Taillon was brilliant against San Diego on Thursday, scattering three hits over eight scoreless innings while walking two en route to victory. It marked the sixth straight outing in which the 24-year-old Floridian worked at least six frames and fourth time in that span the rookie allowed fewer than two runs. Taillon, who never has faced San Francisco, is 2-2 with a 2.63 ERA in four road starts.
Samardzija is coming off a rare strong performance as he scattered three hits over 5 2/3 scoreless innings in a victory at Miami. The 31-year-old native of Indiana surrendered at least four runs in seven of his previous eight outings, yielding five or more five times in that span. Samardzija was fortunate to keep his career record against the Pirates even at 4-4 as he escaped with a no-decision at Pittsburgh on June 22 after being tagged for six runs and six hits — three homers — in three innings.
WALK-OFFS
1. Angel Pagan is riding a 13-game hitting streak — the longest run by a Giant this season.
2. Pittsburgh has won six of Taillon's last seven starts.
3. San Francisco's rotation has produced only eight quality starts in 28 games since the All-Star break.