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Story by Liz Alper
Photo: The Padres held a 6-4 lead over the Pirates until the seventh, when Gregory Polanco unleashed a three-run homer to give the Buccos the lead. Via @Pirates on Twitter
August 4, 2017 (Pittsburgh) - Yes, the Padres just faced the Bucs, but because the MLB said so, they're facing them again, this time in Pittsburgh. Travis Wood started against Ivan Nova for the Pirates.
After a rain delay, the Padres took charge. Wood reached on an error in the fifth, allowing Austin Hedges to score. Carlos Asuaje homered on what turned out to be a homer after an umpire review. Two runs scored and the Padres took a 3-0 lead.
But in the bottom half of the fifth, the Bucs made a comeback. Nova hit a sac bunt and a throwing error by Hedges allowed Francisco Cervelli to score. Josh Harrison singled to score Jordy Mercer. The Padres once again found themselves hanging by a thin thread, up 3-2.
PNC Park is a beautiful ballpark, but Pirates fans have a bad habit of touching balls that would otherwise be foul. It happened to Yangervis Solarte in the sixth when, after yet another umpire review on a Padres homer ruled the play fan interference and Solarte had himself a home run and the Padres had themselves a 4-2 lead.
But the Pirates made another comeback in their half of the sixth. David Freese homered and Adam Frazier singled and scored Jose Osuna to tie the game.
Manuel Margot came to save the day again in the seventh with a solo homer. Cory Spangenberg walked with the bases loaded to give the Padres the 6-4 lead.
But it was not to last. In the Buccos’ half of the seventh, Gregory Polanco smashed a three-run homer to put the Pirates in front. Frazier hit a sac fly to score Josh Bell and Harrison hit a two-run RBI single. A six-run seventh gave the Bucs the 10-6 win in game one.
Game two is tomorrow at 4:05 p.m. A good pitching matchup awaits in Dinelson Lamet vs. Gerrit Cole for the Bucs.
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