From tarps to triples, Pirates’ Polanco does it all

Associated Press

PITTSBURGH

Gregory Polanco helped free a grounds crew member trapped underneath a billowing tarp, then hit a go-ahead triple in the eighth inning that sent the Pittsburgh Pirates past the San Diego Padres 3-2 Tuesday night.

Polanco and fellow Pirates outfielders Andrew McCutchen and Sean Rodriguez made the play of the game at the start of a 1 hour, 42 minute rain delay in the top of the third.

Strong winds and rain caused the tarp to start swelling as the grounds crew at PNC Park struggled to cover the infield, and a worker was swallowed up and caught below.

McCutchen, Polanco and Rodriguez came from the Pirates’ dugout and helped pull the tarp off him.

Rodriguez was hit by pitch from Joaquin Benoit (5-4) leading off the eighth. Polanco tripled with two outs, giving the Pirates their fourth straight win.

McCutchen set a career high by extending his hitting streak to 14 games.

Tony Watson (2-1) pitched a scoreless eighth and Mark Melancon worked the ninth for his NL-leading 28th save.

Matt Kemp doubled in both Padres’ runs in the third after play resumed. San Diego lost its fourth straight game and was held to two runs or fewer for the seventh time in eight games.

McCutchen doubled home a run in the third and Jung Ho Kang tripled in the tying run in the fifth.

Pittsburgh starter Francisco Liriano allowed two runs and four hits in six innings with six strikeouts and a walk.

Padres starter Tyson Ross was pulled after the delay. He worked two scoreless innings.

Kemp and Clint Barmes had two hits apiece for the Padres.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Padres: 3B Will Middlebrooks, who had been limited by a sore left ankle, made his first start since June 28 and went 1 for 4. ... C Tim Federowicz, recovering from arthroscopic right knee surgery, is on course to begin a rehab assignment next week at low Class A Fort Wayne.

Pirates: LF Starling Marte missed his second straight game because of a strained left oblique.

UP NEXT

San Diego RHP Andrew Cashner (3-9, 4.06 ERA) faces RHP Charlie Morton (6-2, 4.30) in tonight’s series finale. Cashner is 1-3 against the Pirates with a 0.95 ERA in six games. Morton is 4-1 with a 2.65 ERA against San Diego.