Pirates have struggled against NL Central during Hurdle’s tenure
Clint Hurdle is already considered one of the best managers in Pirates鈥� history, though he has been on the job less than six full seasons.
Under Hurdle, the Pirates broke their streak of 20 consecutive losing seasons, which remains the longest in major North American professional sports history, in a big way by qualifying for the first of three consecutive playoff berths.
About the only thing Hurdle hasn鈥檛 been able to do since taking over for John Russell prior to 2011 season, though, is win inside the National League Central.
The Pirates are 21-24 against division foes this season, including a woeful 3-9 mark against the first-place Chicago Cubs.
Overall, the Pirates are 214-218 inside the division, which is only four games below .500, under Hurdle. However, the record is skewed by a 45-31 mark in 2013, the only time they have a winning record against NL Central in those six seasons.
The Pirates have 31 intradivision games left this season, including 10 against the Milwaukee Brewers, eight against the Cincinnati Reds, seven against the Cubs and six against the St. Louis Cardinals.
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Gregory Polanco batted cleanup for the first time in his three major league seasons Tuesday night but that wasn鈥檛 the right fielder鈥檚 only first in the Pirates鈥� 6-4 victory over the San Diego Padres at PNC Park.
Polanco鈥檚 three-run home run off Luis Perdomo in the fifth inning snapped a 2-2 tie and marked his first extra-base hit on an 0-2 count in the major leagues.
Coming into the weekend, Polanco was an .097 on an 0-2 count with nine singles and the homer in 104 plate appearances. He had struck out 50 times.
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According to stat guru Bill Arnold, the price of beer has remained steady at PNC Park since 2014 at .34 cents an ounce.
It鈥檚 surprising to note that just four major league teams have raised their beer prices during that span 鈥� the Miami Marlins, Texas Rangers, San Francisco Giants and Atlanta Braves.