Polanco powers Pirates past Cardinals
ST. LOUIS -- Gregory Polanco accomplished a first and the Pittsburgh Pirates are back over .500 as a result.
Belting two homers in a game for the first time in his major league career, Polanco led Pittsburgh to its fifth straight win, a 4-2 verdict Monday over the St. Louis Cardinals at Busch Stadium.
With the Pirates (42-41) trailing 1-0 in the top of the sixth, Polanco drilled a 2-1 pitch from starter Carlos Martinez 392 feet over the right-field wall. It scored John Jaso, who led off the inning with a double.
Polanco capped the scoring in the eighth by greeting reliever Seth Maness with his 12th homer of the year, a line drive that sliced inside the left-field foul pole.
Jaso accounted for Pittsburgh's other run in the seventh with a two-out RBI single to center that scored Jordy Mercer, who singled and moved to second on an infield out.
Jonathon Niese (7-6) picked up the win after going 5 2/3 innings, scattering seven hits and allowing one run. He walked one and fanned three.
Pittsburgh's bullpen extended its major-league high streak of scoreless innings this year to 35, dating back to June 24, with three clean innings after Niese departed.
Juan Nicasio fanned the side in the eighth on nine pitches and Neftali Feliz, closing because Mark Melancon was unavailable, got the last two outs for his first save despite allowing a two-out RBI double to Matt Carpenter that ended the bullpen's unblemished run.
Martinez (7-6) worked seven innings, allowing nine hits and three runs with a walk and seven strikeouts. It was his first loss in seven starts; his earned run average in the prior six outings was 1.06.
St. Louis (43-39) broke the scoring seal in the fifth on an RBI single by Carpenter, plating Jedd Gyorko.
The Pirates have won five straight, one off their season high, and all on a nine-game road trip.
NOTES: To make room for C Eric Fryer, who was claimed off waivers from St. Louis on Sunday, Pittsburgh placed catcher Chris Stewart (left knee) on the 15-day DL Monday. The Pirates also designated RHP Rob Scahill for assignment so that Fryer could be on the 40-man roster. ... St. Louis named RHP Luke Weaver (Double-A) and OF Brian Sanchez (Rookie League) its Minor League Pitcher and Player of the Month for June. ... Pirates CF Andrew McCutchen (heel) returned to the lineup Monday after being rested for Sunday's 6-3 win in Oakland.