Left-hander Jeff Locke threw seven strong innings, Gregory Polanco led another complete performance by the Pirates’ lineup and the Bucs beat the Braves, 8-2, on Thursday night to clinch a victory in their four-game series at PNC Park.
Locke bounced back from a rough start against the Cubs and worked seven full innings for the second time in his last four starts, holding the Braves to two runs on six hits while striking out six. Unlike Wednesday night, Pittsburgh’s bats backed up their starter, pounding out eight runs on 11 hits — including three from leadoff man John Jaso and Jordy Mercer and two from Polanco.
Polanco flashed rarely seen power in the second inning, launching an 80-mph curveball over the left-center-field wall off Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz — who gave up five runs (four earned) in three innings. The two-run homer, Polanco’s fifth of the season, traveled 409 feet from home plate the opposite way and into the stands with an exit velocity of 105 mph, according to Statcast™.
Polanco’s barrage against Atlanta’s pitching staff continued in the fifth, when he smashed a leadoff triple high off the right-field wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jung Ho Kang.
Fresh off the paternity list following the birth of his daughter, Tiana, Pirates left fielder Starling Marte knocked a two-run single to right field in the first inning against Foltynewicz to open the scoring. One of the Pirates’ most productive hitters thus far this season, Marte missed the first three games of this series to be with his family.
Foltynewicz retired two of the first three batters he faced before hitting Kang with a 1-2 fastball. The first of Tyler Flowers’ two passed balls set the stage for Marte to spark Pittsburgh’s two-run first with a bloop single to shallow right. Then in the second inning, the Braves right-hander allowed three consecutive two-out hits, including Polanco’s two-run homer. Foltynewicz had allowed two earned runs in 15 innings over his two previous starts.
After making three quick trips in and out of Pittsburgh last season without throwing a pitch, reliever Wilfredo Boscan finally got on the mound at PNC Park. Called up Thursday afternoon to replace left-hander Cory Luebke in the bullpen, Boscan tossed a perfect eighth inning and a scoreless ninth to seal the victory.
Jeff Francoeur notched the first of the two consecutive doubles surrendered by Locke to begin the fourth inning and then opened the sixth inning with his second home run of the season and of the series. The six home runs the Braves hit during this four-game series matched the total they have compiled over 19 games at Turner Field this season.
Matt Wisler will take the mound when Atlanta begins a three-game series in Philadelphia at Citizens Bank Park on Friday at 6:05 p.m. CT. Wisler has pitched into the eighth inning in each of his past three starts, including his May 10 loss to the Phillies. Thunder Radio will bring you the broadcast of the game as part of the Braves Radio Network beginning at 6 PM.
