Pedro Alvarez blasted a grand slam and a two-run home run for two of the Pittsburgh Pirates' six home runs as the Pirates pounded the Phildelphia Phillies 18-4 Monday afternoon.
Alvarez hit the first of his home runs in the bottom of the fifth inning as he sent a 1-1 pitch from Kevin Slowey over the right center field wall for a two-run bomb (3). In the eighth, he took Ryan Sullivan over the same wall with the bases loaded for a grand slam (4) that finally ended the scoring. In all, Alvarez drove in six on the day and scored three as he went 2 for 4 with a walk. He now has 15 RBI on the spring.
Four other Pirates hit home runs: Josh Harrison (2), a solo shot in the first; Starling Marte (2), a two-run homer in the third; Tony Sanchez (4), a two-run bomb in the fourth; and Pedro Florimon (2), a two-run shot in the sixth. Gregory Polanco (two separate singles) and Neil Walker (single) drove in Pittsburgh's other three runs.
Philadelphia got a two-run home run from Freddy Galvis (1) in the top of the sixth. The Phillies scored two more in the eighth on a Cord Phelps RBI triple and a Darin Ruf sacrifice fly.
Mark Melancon (W: 1-0, 2.57 ERA) got a very rare start, but he earned the win with one inning of work thanks to Harrison's home run. There is no innings minimum for the starter in Spring Training. Adrian Sampson (S: 1) pitched the final four innings to get credit for the save even though he gave up all four Phillies runs. He allowed six hits and struck out two.
Zack Eflin (L: 0-1, 3.00) started for Philadelphia. In his three innings, he allowed four runs, one earned, on three hits. He walked one and struck out two. He allowed Harrison's and Marte's home runs. Slowey gave up two home runs in allowing six earned runs in two innings of relief work.
On Tuesday, the Phillies visit the Toronto Blue Jays while the Pirates travel to face the Detroit Tigers. Both games start at 1:05 p.m. EDT.