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Pittsburgh Pirates Baseball Central

Polanco rattles Arizona

PITTSBURGH - The first slump of Gregory Polanco's major league career didn't last very long.Polanco hit a two-run homer and reached base three times, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the fifth time in six games, 5-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night.The 22-year-old phenom entered his fourth week in the majors without a hit in 12 at-bats over his previous three starts, dropping his average 50 points to .288. But a night after singling in his first pinch-hit at-bat, Polanco doubled, walked and hit his third home run."This game is all about adjustments," Polanco said. "You ...

Philadelphia Freedom

PITTSBURGH - When Andrew McCutchen stepped to the plate in the eighth inning, he wasn't looking for a home run but he thought he had one to complete a cycle.No such luck for the Pittsburgh Pirates star. McCutchen had to settle for his second double and RBI.The reigning NL MVP went 4 for 5 and finished a home run short of a cycle, and Jordy Mercer drove in a career-high four runs to lead the Pirates to an 8-2 rout of the Philadelphia Phillies on Friday.McCutchen nearly finished the feat when he drove a pitch from B.J. Rosenberg to the opposite field."That should've been a homer," ...

Barmes placed on 15-day disabled list

PITTSBURGH (AP) - The Pittsburgh Pirates have placed shortstop Clint Barmes on the 15-day disabled list Sunday with a left groin strain.Barmes' move to the DL is retroactive to June 30.The 35-year-old is hitting .239 in 42 games this season.Pittsburgh recalled infielder Michael Martinez from Triple-A Indianapolis to take Barmes' spot on the 25-man roster.Martinez will be in his second stint with the Pirates after he was with the club from June 12 to 15, and started at second base in Miami on June 13.

McCutchen, Watson, Harrison make 2014 All-Star roster

Rosters for the MLB All-Star game on Tuesday, July 15 at Target Field, Minneapolis (x-inactive; r-replacement).AMERICAN LEAGUESTARTERSCatcher - x-Matt Wieters, Orioles; y-Salvador Perez, RoyalsFirst Base - Josh Donaldson, AthleticsSecond Base - Robinson Cano, MarinersThird Base - Miguel Cabrera, TigersShortstop - Derek Jeter, YankeesOutfield - Jose Bautista, Blue Jays; Mike Trout, Angels; Adam Jones, Orioles;Designated Hitter - Nelson Cruz, OriolesRESERVESPitchersDellin Betances, RHP, YankeesMark Buehrle, LHP, Blue JaysYu Darvish, RHP, RangersSean Doolittle, LHP, AthleticsFelix ...

Locked down

PITTSBURGH - Jeff Locke spent a lot of time with A.J. Burnett last year, and then faced his mentor in a pitching matchup in Pittsburgh.Locke got the best of Burnett on Sunday in Pittsburgh's 6-2 victory that finished off a three-game sweep of the Philadelphia Phillies."It didn't even feel like we were playing a Major League Baseball game," Locke said. "We spoke really briefly before we got in the bullpen, just told each other to have fun today, go get 'em. Pound down."Locke gave up just three hits and a walk in eight innings, and the Pirates completed their first sweep of the season. ...

McCutchen gets starting nod

NEW YORK - The trade that put Jeff Samardzija on a postseason contender cost him a chance to pitch in his first All-Star game.A day after Samardzija was dealt from the Chicago Cubs to Oakland, a big league-high six Athletics were picked Sunday for the game at Target Field in Minnesota on July 15.That doesn't include Samardzija, selected as a National League All-Star. Major League Baseball said he is ineligible to play because of the league switch.The 29-year-old right-hander, who was 2-7 with a 2.83 ERA and 103 strikeouts for the Cubs, won his American League debut Sunday when he allowed ...