Gerrit Cole pitched seven strong innings, Starling Marte hit a three-run homer and the Pittsburgh Pirates beat the Philadelphia Phillies 4-3 Monday night in the opener of a four-game series at Citizens Bank Park.
Cole (5-1) gave up two runs, six hits and two walks and struck out six to remain unbeaten on the road in his last seven starts.
Gregory Polanco was 2-for-4 with a walk and scored two runs for the Pirates, who are back at .500 (16-16) after winning their third straight game.
Philadelphia pulled within a run when Odubel Herrera hit the first homer of his major league career, a solo blast to right field in the ninth off Mark Melancon. The Pirates closer gave up a one-out single to Carlos Ruiz, but retired the next two batters to earn his eighth save of the season.
Phillies starter Jerome Williams (2-3) needed 85 pitches to get through five innings. He gave up four hits, all for extra bases, including the Marte home run, and walked two.
[SportsNetwork.com]
