Watch Pirates solve power outage with three monstrous HRs against D-Backs

Arthur Weinstein

Watch Pirates solve power outage with three monstrous HRs against D-Backs image

The Pirates have had a terrible power shortage this season, but they made up for that with three tape-measure home runs in the space of two innings Friday night against the Diamondbacks.

The Bucs entered the game with only seven home runs in their first 16 games, tied for second-worst in the majors, but third baseman Sean Rodriguez got the fireworks started with a 458-foot blast to left center in the second inning off Diamondbacks left-hander Patrick Corbin.

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Gregory Polanco followed up on the very next pitch with an even longer shot, 461 feet to dead center.

An inning later, shortstop Jordy Mercer outdid both of them, with a line drive 466-foot shot to left center off Corbin.

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Mercer's blast is the longest home run of the year, surpassing a 462-foot homer by Nolan Arenado. And according to MLB.com's Statcast, the Pirates' three home runs rank among the six longest in the majors so far this season.

According to ESPN, the blasts by Rodriguez and Polanco were the longest combined back-to-back homers since it began tracking the stat in 2009.

Yes, the retractable roof was open at Chase Field, but Rodriguez had a different theory for the Bucs' power explosion in their 8-7 victory.

"Maybe it's something in the water," he said, via MLB.com.

Arthur Weinstein