May 30, 2016; Miami, FL, USA; Pittsburgh Pirates right fielder Gregory Polanco (center) celebrates with teammates after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning against the Miami Marlins at Marlins Park. Photo Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports
Gregory Polanco hit his first career grand slam and Jeff Locke pitched his first career shutout to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday night at Marlins Park.
MIAMI — Gregory Polanco hit his first career grand slam and Jeff Locke pitched his first career shutout to lead the Pittsburgh Pirates to a 10-0 win over the Miami Marlins on Monday night at Marlins Park.
First baseman David Freese went 4-for-5 with two doubles, two runs scored and two RBIs as Pittsburgh (29-21) snapped a two-game losing streak and improved to 14-12 on the road.
Polanco pulled a 2-1 pitch to right off of reliever Jose Urena to cap a five-run sixth inning. It was his eighth homer of the season.
Locke (4-3), who entered the game with a 5.09 ERA, allowed three singles, no walks and threw 105 pitches. He struck out just one, but retired 19 straight batters between the third and ninth innings. The streak was snapped by a two-out single by pinch hitter Jeff Mathis.
It was the Pirates’ first complete game of the season.
Pittsburgh shortstop Sean Rodriguez, who is from Miami?s Braddock High School, added a two-run homer in a three-run ninth.
The Pirates are 7-3 against left-handed starters after defeating Miami’s Justin Nicolino (2-3). Nicolino allowed three runs in five innings.
Miami (26-25) fell to just 10-14 at home this season and it was the Marlins worst loss of the season.
Marlins center fielder Marcell Ozuna, who had reached base in 36 consecutive games and had an 11-game hit streak, had both runs broken. He went 0-for-3.
With two outs in the first inning, Freese doubled and gave the Pirates a 1-0 lead by scoring on a single by Jung Ho Kang. Freese barely beat the throw home by right fielder Cole Gillespie.
The Pirates made it 2-0 in the third. Josh Harrison hit an infield single to the hole at shortstop, stole second and scored on a two-out single by Freese.
Pittsburgh loaded the bases with one out in the sixth before making it 3-0 on an infield single by Francisco Cervelli — a swinging bunt that got past Urena. Polanco then hit his slam to give the Pirates a 7-0 lead.
NOTES: Pirates 2B Josh Harrison (illness) returned after missing two games. … Monday was the 30th anniversary of Barry Bonds’ major-league debut. Bonds, now a Marlins hitting coach, made his debut with the Pirates. … Marlins 2B Derek Dietrich sat out after getting hit in the back of the head by a foul ball while in the dugout on Sunday. … As part of his rehab, Marlins LHP Mike Dunn (forearm) pitched a 1-2-3 inning at Single-A Jupiter on Sunday. He could be activated Tuesday. … Marlins RF Giancarlo Stanton (sore right side) missed his sixth straight game but has been taking batting practice. … Tuesday’s game matches two top young right-handers — Miami’s Jose Fernandez, 23, an All-Star in 2013 and 21-1 with a 1.64 ERA in his career at home, against Pittsburgh’s Gerrit Cole, 25, an All-Star last year when he went 19-8 with a 2.60 ERA.
