Gregory Polanco slammed his first home run of the season and Felipe Vazquez touched 102 miles per hour as Pittsburgh held on for a 5-4 win over the visiting Texas Rangers.
With two starting pitchers, Chris Archer and Jameson Taillon, out with injuries, Pirates’ manager Clint Hurdle turned to Steven Brault to make his first start of the year. Brault breezed through his first three innings, allowing only a hit and a walk while striking out four.
The Pirates hit several balls hard off Rangers’ starter Adrian Sampson but didn’t get on the score board until two outs in the third when Adam Frazier’s high fly to right just managed to elude the glove of right fielder Hunter Pence and bounce away for a triple.