McCutchen moves past Clemente on Pirates' home run list in 5-2 win over Marlins
Andrew McCutchen hit a milestone three-run home run in the fifth inning to help the Pittsburgh Pirates defeat the Miami Marlins 5-2 on Wednesday.
McCutchen's shot to left-center field off Cal Quantrill was his sixth of the season and 241st in 12 seasons with the Pirates, moving him past Hall of Famer Roberto Clemente into third place on the franchise's career list. Willie Stargell (475) and Ralph Kiner (301) are ahead of McCutchen.
The homer put the Pirates ahead 4-0 after they scored a run on catcher Nick Fortes' throwing error in the second inning. Pittsburgh took two of three in the series, went 6-3 on the homestand and sent the Marlins to their eighth loss in 10 games.
Bailey Falter (5-3) allowed one run — on rookie Heriberto Hernandez's first career homer — on five hits in 5 1/3 innings. The left-hander is 4-0 with a 1.61 ERA in eight starts since the beginning of May.
David Bednar pitched a 1-2-3 ninth for his ninth save in as many chances. Bednar is perfect in save opportunities this season after blowing seven of 30 last year.
Quantrill (3-7) went five innings and gave up four runs — three earned — and six hits while striking out six. He lost his third straight start.
Ke'Bryan Hayes had two hits for the Pirates. The Marlins got two hits each from Hernandez, Fortes and Connor Norby.
With the Marlins down 1-0 and the bases loaded in the fifth, rookie Augustin Ramirez lined out sharply to right field to end the inning.
Pirates fan returns home run ball to McCutchen
Jim Kolesar snagged the home run ball and returned it to McCutchen after the game.
"It was stuck under the bleacher. Everyone was going crazy for it," he said. "I looked under the bleacher seat and it was jammed up in there, and that's why the scar is there. It's easy to authenticate," Kolesar told McCutchen after the game.
"It was great and for him to explain kind of how he got the ball," McCutchen said. "That's why it has the little cut it in there, because it got lodged under the bench. I at least have that to remember and to know that this is that ball. So, if for some reason I can't find it, I know what it looks like."
There was another special moment after the game for McCutchen. Roberto Clemente Jr. congratulated him on his accomplishment, one that the Pirates star was happy to achieve at PNC Park.
"Because who knows if I would have hit it in Chicago, maybe I don't get that ball back. So, it was great for it to work out the way that it did," McCutchen said.
"And for the fan that was able to return the ball to me, for him to do what he did was icing on the cake," he added.
Up next
The Pirates visit the Chicago Cubs on Thursday night in the opener of a four-game series. LHP Andrew Heaney (3-4, 3.24) will pitch for the Pirates. The Cubs have not announced a starter.
The Marlins are off Thursday before starting a three-game series at Washington. RHP Edward Cabrera (2-2, 3.99) will take the ball for the Marlins.
