Polanco, Jaso lift Bucs over Cards

Associated Press

ST. LOUIS

Gregory Polanco helped the Pittsburgh Pirates serve up a nice slice of victory pie.

Polanco went the opposite way for a three-run homer and John Jaso added a two-run drive, leading Gerrit Cole and the Pirates over the St. Louis Cardinals 10-5 Sunday.

Facing reliever Matt Bowman, Polanco capped a four-run seventh inning by slicing his homer barely over the wall in left field, just inside the foul pole.

“I was looking for a good pitch. He threw me one that was out and over the plate and it was something I could drive,” Polanco said. “Whenever you hit the ball to the opposite field, it’s good. I stayed with the pitch and hit it that way.”

“I was a little surprised it went out. I was more worried about it staying fair,” he said.

Cole (3-3) gave up two runs and six hits in six innings. He struck out seven and walked two.

“He stayed aggressive and used all his pitches,” Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. “I felt it was a really good bounce-back start from his last start. As the game went along, he got stronger.”

Mark Melancon relieved with the bases loaded in the ninth and got Yadier Molina to ground into a game-ending double play for his ninth save.

The Pirates took two of three at Busch Stadium and have won five of six from St. Louis this season.