PITTSBURGH (AP) – Gregory Polanco hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and Chad Kuhl pitched six innings for the win after being called up from the minor leagues as the Pittsburgh Pirates defeated the San Diego Padres 6-4 on Tuesday night.
Polanco’s three-run blast deep into the seats in right-center off Luis Perdomo was his 16th homer and it put the Pirates ahead 5-2 and keyed a four-run sixth inning that included Francisco Cervelli’s RBI double.
Kuhl (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out four and walking four. He made four starts with the Pirates earlier this season and was 6-3 with a 2.37 ERA in 16 starts for Indianapolis.
David Freese had three hits and scored three runs and Josh Harrison added two hits for the Pirates, who improved to 4-6 in a 12-game stretch against teams who are at least 10 games under .500.
Pittsburgh remained three games out of the second NL wild card.
Tony Watson pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.
Perdomo (5-6) was tagged for six runs – five earned – in five innings. The rookie walked three and struck out three as his ERA rose to 6.80.
Jabari Blash had two hits and two RBIs, including a solo home run off Watson in the ninth, for the Padres. Wil Myers hit his team-leading 22nd homer, a solo shot off Antonio Bastardo in the eighth inning, and Yangervis Solarte had two hits.
Kuhl gave up both runs in the first inning when Alex Dickerson hit an RBI double and scored on Jabari Blash’s single.
The Pirates tied it 2-2 as Sean Rodriguez hit a run-scoring groundout in the second inning and he added an RBI single in the fourth.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Pirates: Polanco returned to the starting lineup after being limited to pinch-hitting during the previous four games because of left shoulder discomfort. . Freese started after sitting out Sunday’s loss to Cincinnati with left elbow discomfort. . RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder discomfort) pitched a three-inning simulated game Tuesday afternoon, the first time he faced hitters since going on the DL on July 24.
WHAT’S NEXT
Padres: RHP Edwin Jackson (2-2, 5.00 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday night in the second game of the three-game series after pitching a season-high eight innings to beat Milwaukee last Wednesday. He has a 9-3 career record against the Pirates.
Pirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (1-1, 3.25) makes his second start since being out from May 24-Aug. 3 with facial fractures sustained when hit by a pitch. He held Atlanta to one run in six innings in a no-decision last Thursday.
