Polanco helps with tarp, then triples as Pirates top Padres

During the game at PNC Park, high winds and heavy rained forced a delay against the San Diego Padres.

Gregory Polanco isn’t an ideal leadoff hitter, especially from a statistical standpoint, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder is hitting.

The Pirates responded quickly, as Andrew McCutchen doubled in Neil Walker to make it 2-1.

Upton made a heck of a catch to rob Andrew McCutchen of a two-run home run on Tuesday night.

Alvarez was halfway between first and second when McCutchen scored, which prompted his teammates to pour out of the dugout and encircle him on the outfield grass.

“Usually you see it on the blooper reel where someone gets picked up by the tarp or the tarp goes over”, said Rodriguez. We knew it was going to happen, that’s why we stayed out there. Pittsburgh has won seven of its last eight to cut first-place St. Louis’ lead in the National League Central to 4 1/2 games.

The Pirates scored all three of their runs in the eighth with two outs as they finally wore down the opposing pitcher.

Clint Hurdle had this to say on the team’s web site after the victory, “Well, we can knock this off the to-do list, for sure”. “He’s had a lot better swings lately”. The double extended McCutchen’s hitting streak to fourteen games, a career best. He had a 13-gamer as a rookie in 2009.

Mark Melancon added his 28th save in closing out the ninth.

Matt Kemp doubled in both Padres’ runs in the third after resumed. McCutchen had to think this go-ahead homer was long gone but Upton, recently named the Padres’ lone representative to the All-Star game, got way up above the wall to take it away. Weather cut Tyson Ross’ start to two innings with Frank Garces and Marcos Mateo and Joaquin Benoit allowing runs.

Jared Hughes (2-1) pitched one scoreless inning for the win as the Pirates beat the Padres for just the fourth time in the team’s last 20 meetings at PNC Park. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound lefthander gave up just two earned runs on four hits while striking out six and walking one.