Polanco leads Pirates past Mets, 5-2

PIRATES 5 – METS 2

Win: Vance Worley (2-0)

Loss: Daisuke Matsuzaka (3-2)

Save Mark Melancon (14)

Gregory Polanco hit a three-run homer and drove in four runs, leading the Pittsburgh Pirates (40-39) to a 5-2 win over the New York Mets (36-43) on Thursday night in the opener of a four game series.

The Pirates improved to 40-39 on the season and 36,647 got to see a good one.

Polanco who is hitting .338 in his first 16 games, drove in the game’s first run with an RBI groundout in the first inning and then broke the game wide open with a three-run shot off Daisuke Matsuzaka to put the Pirates up 5-1 in the bottom of the fifth.

“Talented young man,” manager Clint Hurdle said. “He’s obviously making a difference.”

On the three-run homer, Polanco sent a hanging breaking ball from Matsuzaka deep as Polanco is growing by the day as a hitter. “He’s been getting challenged with more off speed stuff, he’s been able to pick up on that,” Hurdle said. “Good swing on breaking ball over the plate.”

The Pirates again got another strong outing from Vance Worley (2-0, 1.74). Worley improving to 2-0 on the season, allowed seven hits and one earned run over seven innings. Through three starts, Worley is 2-0 with a 1.74 ERA and 0.97 WHIP. Opponents are hitting just .224 against Worley.

 “He works quick, efficient,” Hurdle said. “Solid body of work, very professional outing. What he was able to do was go to pitcher that were working. Cutter played very well, especially against lefties.”