Polanco drives in five runs as Pirates rout Diamondbacks
PITTSBURGH -- Gregory Polanco hit a three-run homer and drove in a career-high five runs and the Pittsburgh Pirates roughed up struggling Arizona Diamondbacks starter Shelby Miller during a 12-1 victory Tuesday night.
The Pirates put up four different three-run innings against Arizona, two against Miller, and matched a season-high 12 runs achieved twice previously, including a 12-10 victory in Phoenix on April 24.
With the Pirates up 11 runs in the eighth, reliever Arquimedes Caminero -- who was characteristically wild -- was ejected for hitting shortstop Nick Ahmed, the second batter he hit in as many innings. Arizona second baseman Jean Segura, who is hitting .316, left the game after being hit on the left side of his head by a 96-mph Caminero fastball that ran up and in during the seventh.
Segura's batting helmet absorbed most of the impact of the pitch, and he was able to walk back to the dugout on his own.
Pirates left-hander Francisco Liriano (4-3) got the win despite being lifted after walking three in the sixth inning -- the final two on eight consecutive balls. He allowed two hits and walked five over 5 2/3 innings.
Polanco's homer -- his fifth -- quickly put the Pirates up 3-0 as their first three batters of the game reached and scored against Miller (1-6), whose ERA climbed to 7.18 by the time he left after five innings.
Jordy Mercer's two-run double keyed a three-run Pirates third that included an RBI single by Liriano. Polanco's two-run double preceded Jung Ho Kang's run-scoring single in the sixth -- two of 17 Pirates hits.
Miller needed 20 pitches to get an out in the first inning, and 32 to get back to the dugout as four of the first Pirates batters reached base. John Jaso walked and Andrew McCutchen singled ahead of Polanco's three-run drive into the right-center seats.
The Pirates benefitted from the replay system when they challenged what was ruled to be a pickoff of Jaso at first by Miller. The Pirates challenge was upheld and Jaso returned to first, allowing him to score on Polanco's sixth of the season.
The Pirates followed a different scenario during another three-run inning in the third. This time, Miller quickly got two outs before allowing Starling Marte's second single in as many at-bats. After Josh Harrison walked, Jordy Miller drove a double to center that scored both runners and extended his hitting streak to eight games.
One batter later, Polanco helped himself with a run-scoring single to left, his eighth hit in his first 22 at-bats of the season. He has 17 hits in his last 24 starts dating to last season.
On the mound, Polanco didn't allow a hit until Phil Gosselin doubled leading off the fourth.
Miller was lifted after throwing 107 pitches over five innings, allowing eight hits and six earned runs that elevated his ERA to 7.09.
NOTES: Pirates RHP Ryan Vogelsong, struck in the left cheekbone by a 92-mph fastball Monday, was placed on the 15-day disabled list with facial fractures. RHP A.J. Schugel was called up from Triple-A Indianapolis. ... The Pirates are playing 21 games in 21 days. ... Diamondbacks RHP Josh Collmenter was scheduled to make another minor league rehabilitation appearance Tuesday night -- he made his second on Sunday -- and could return to the team this weekend, according to manager Chip Hale. He has been on the DL since spring training with right shoulder tightness. ... D-backs OF David Peralta (right wrist inflammation) has begun swinging the bat, and might be ready later this week to play in extended spring training games. Hale hopes he could return by next week. Peralta was placed on the DL retroactive to May 8.