SAN FRANCISCO — For years, Pirates general manager Neal Huntington has maintained Gregory Polanco, in his ascent from blue-chip prospect to bona fide big-league star, would blossom into a power hitter who could hit for average against left-handed pitching.
If Polanco’s two-run blast off San Francisco Giants left-hander Matt Moore Monday night was an indication, Huntington was right. After plopping a two-run single into right earlier in the game, Polanco powered Moore’s first-pitch fastball over the right-field wall, one-hop into McCovey Cove.
“I was looking fastball, and he threw it right away,” Polanco said Tuesday night before the game.