Each night in the 2016 baseball season, we'll run down the top news, facts and highlights from action around Major League Baseball.
Pirates outfielder Gregory Polanco played the hero in St. Louis on Independence Day by recording the first multi-home run game of his career in his team's 4-2 win over the Cardinals.
MORE: Polanco could make SN50 next season
Polanco's first home run, a shot into the right-field bleachers, came in the sixth inning. He homered to left field two innings later. is second came two innings later when he sent a shot out of left field. The 24-year-old right fielder is enjoying a breakout season; he's now batting .297/.374/.521 with 12 home runs and 50 RBIs. His performance has helped compensate for center fielder Andrew McCutchen's poor season.
Matt Carpenter did his best to give St. Louis a chance by collecting three hits, two RBIs and a walk, but the rest of the Redbirds' offense couldn't support starter Carlos Martinez, who allowed three runs and nine hits over seven innings.
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Pittsburgh (42-41) has won five games in a row and is just 1 1/2 games behind the Cardinals (43-39) for second place in the National League Central.
Player of the Day
Todd Frazier, 3B, White Sox. Frazier reached base five times in Chicago's 8-2 win over the Yankees. He went 3 for 3 with two walks, two runs scored and an RBI. The former Reds slugger is batting just .212/.309/.467 with his new team and has just three multi-hit games since May 23, but he also has produced 23 homers and 52 RBIs.
Highlight
America!
🇺🇸🇺🇸🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/rCveqX00nM
— MLB GIFS (@MLBGIFs) July 4, 2016
Three things to know
— Before Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant left Monday's game with a leg contusion, he belted his third home run in five career at-bats on July 4. He also became the fourth-youngest Cub to reach 50 career home runs. The Cubs went on to beat the Reds 10-4 and end their four-game losing streak.
MORE: Nine greatest sports moments on July 4
— With two doubles Monday, Red Sox slugger David Ortiz passed Carl Yastrzemski for 12th on baseball's all-time list for extra-base hits. Boston finished its 12-5 win over Texas with 21 hits.
— After giving up 11 hits and six runs in just 3 2/3 innings against the Marlins, Mets right-hander Matt Harvey has allowed at least 11 hits twice this season (he also allowed 11 on May 13 at Colorado). Prior to 2016, Harvey had allowed 11 or more hits just once in 72 starts.
What's next
Marlins (43-40) at Mets (45-37), 7:10 p.m. ET — New York catcher Travis d'Arnaud is heating up at the plate (8 for 13, four RBIs in his past four games). Batterymate Steven Matz (7-3, 3.40 ERA) will take the mound to help the Mets try to extend their winning streak. Wei-Yin Chen (4-3, 5.11 ERA) will pitch for the Marlins. The matchup will also mark Jose Reyes' return to the Mets; the team said it will activate the infielder prior to the game.
Rockies (37-45) at Giants (53-32), 10:15 p.m. ET — Madison Bumgarner (9-4, 2.20) will tote the rubber after struggling (by his standards) in his last two starts (seven earned runs, three home runs allowed over 12 2/3 innings). He will face off against Tyler Chatwood (8-4, 3.15), who is returning from a stint on the disabled list (back).