By Aaron Bracy
May 11, 2015
Pittsburgh Pirates' Starling Marte ,left celebrates with third base coach Rick Sofield after hitting a three run home run against the Philadelphia Philles in the third inning of a baseball game, Monday, May 11, 2015 in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/H. Rumph Jr.)
PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Gerrit Cole figured singles couldn't hurt him.
Cole pitched seven effective innings, Starling Martehit a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 on Monday night.
Cole (5-1) allowed two runs and six hits - all singles - while striking out six and walking two, shaking off his first loss in 10 starts with another good outing. The right-hander had won four straight before Wednesday's 3-0 home loss to Cincinnati.
''They were not terrible pitches, but they were singles,'' Cole said. ''It was important to minimize the damage.''
Making his first start at hitter-friendly Citizens Bank Park, Cole improved to 5-0 with a 2.36 ERA in his last seven road outings.
''He's a quality guy,'' Phillies manager Ryne Sandberg said. ''We spread out our hits and really didn't have a threat.''
The Pirates opened a seven-game trip with their fourth win in five games overall and seventh in their last eight against the Phillies dating to last season.
Gregory Polanco and Chris Stewart had two hits apiece for Pittsburgh, and Polanco also scored two runs.
''It was a battle for us offensively tonight, but we ran the bases well,'' Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said.
Odubel Herrera broke out of a skid with his first major league homer in the ninth off Pirates closer Mark Melancon, who held on for his eighth save in nine opportunities. Grady Sizemore had a pair of RBI singles for the Phillies.
Philadelphia, which entered tied with Milwaukee for the major's worst winning percentage, has dropped 10 of 13 to fall to 11-22 (.333). It's the worst start for the Phillies since 1997, when they opened the season by losing 20 of 29 games.
''In close games like that, little things add up,'' Sandberg said. ''We just have to tighten it up and do the little things better.''
Jerome Williams (2-3) lasted just five innings, giving up three runs and four hits. He struck out four and walked two.
The Pirates did most of their damage in the third inning. Williams walked Polanco and Andrew McCutchen, and Marte launched his eighth homer of the season into the seats in left-center to give Pittsburgh a 3-1 lead.
''He's aggressive and dangerous,'' Hurdle said. ''He jumped on a mistake tonight. It was a big hit for us.''
Marte is 14 for 34 (.412) with five doubles and two homers in eight games in Philadelphia.
''He's very comfortable here,'' Hurdle said.
Philadelphia got a run back in the sixth on Sizemore's second RBI single. But McCutchen's sacrifice fly in the seventh made it 4-2.
The Pirates improved to 9-2 in their last 11 games in Philadelphia.
Herrera returned to the lineup after Sandberg rested the rookie center fielder on Sunday. Prior to the homer, he went 0 for 3 with three strikeouts in his first three at-bats to fall to 2 for 23 (.087) with 14 strikeouts in his last six games.
Philadelphia, which entered last in the majors in several offensive categories, has averaged 2.14 runs in its 22 losses. It has scored two runs or less in 14 of those games.
ASCHE SENT DOWN
Sandberg told Cody Asche after the game that he was being sent to Triple-A Lehigh Valley to convert to a left fielder, paving the path for top third-base prospect Maikel Franco to be called up.
''Cody is a big part of the future and it's best for Cody and best for the organization going forward,'' Sandberg said of the position change.
Chase Utley put his arm around a clearly shaken Asche in the clubhouse afterward. Outfielders Darin Ruf and Jeff Francoeur also surrounded Asche at his locker.
''I'll never stop believing I'm a big-league baseball player,'' Asche said.
A PIRATE WHO STEALS
Polanco stole his 10th base of the season and trails Billy Hamilton and Dee Gordon for the NL lead.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Pirates: LHP Antonio Bastardo was placed on the paternity list. Bastardo has a 6.43 ERA in seven games this season.
Phillies: RHP Sean O'Sullivan (knee tendinitis) will be activated from the DL to start Tuesday night's game.
UP NEXT
Pirates: RHP A.J. Burnett (1-1, 1.66 ERA) returns to Philadelphia to start Tuesday night. Burnett had a league-leading 18 losses last year with the Phillies. How bad did he want out? Burnett took more than $4 million less to sign with the Pirates, declining a $12.75 million player option with the Phillies in favor of Pittsburgh's one-year, $8.5 million offer.
Phillies: O'Sullivan (0-1, 4.91 ERA) makes his first start since April 17.
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