Polanco backs Locke as Pirates beat Braves

PITTSBURGH — Left-hander Jeff Locke threw seven strong innings, Gregory Polanco led another complete performance by the Pirates’ lineup and the Bucs beat the Braves, 8-2, on Thursday night to clinch a victory in their four-game series at PNC Park.

Locke bounced back from a rough start against the Cubs and worked seven full innings for the second time in his last four starts, holding the Braves to two runs on six hits while striking out six. Unlike Wednesday night, Pittsburgh’s bats backed up their starter, pounding out eight runs on 11 hits — including three from leadoff man John Jaso and Jordy Mercer and two from Polanco.

Polanco flashed rarely seen power in the second inning, launching an 80-mph curveball over the left-center-field wall off Braves starter Mike Foltynewicz — who gave up five runs (four earned) in three innings. The two-run homer, Polanco’s fifth of the season, traveled 409 feet from home plate the opposite way and into the stands with an exit velocity of 105 mph, according to Statcast™.

Polanco’s barrage against Atlanta’s pitching staff continued in the fifth, when he smashed a leadoff triple high off the right-field wall and scored on a sacrifice fly by Jung Ho Kang.

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