njury instead of resting it and then continuing to play. "Im not

PITTSBURGH -- The first slump of Gregory Polancos major league career didnt last very long. Polanco hit a two-run homer and reached base three times, and the Pittsburgh Pirates won for the fifth time in six games, 5-1 over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Wednesday night. The 22-year-old phenom entered his fourth week in the majors without a hit in 12 at-bats over his previous three starts, dropping his average 50 points to .288. But a night after singling in his first pinch-hit at-bat, Polanco doubled, walked and hit his third home run. "This game is all about adjustments," Polanco said. "You have to adjust quick. The faster you adjust, the better you do." Charlie Morton continued his effective pitching at home for Pittsburgh, which clinched its fourth consecutive series victory. Morton (5-9) limited Arizona to one run, five hits and three walks in six innings to lower his ERA at PNC Park to 2.13. Pittsburgh (44-40) has won nine of 11 and moved a season-best four games over .500. "We had a bad April. We dug a hole," Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. "Weve been digging out. Thats all were doing right now, is digging out." Polanco has taken the opposite approach, reaching safely in 19 of 21 major league games. His line-drive shot to right off Chase Anderson in the second inning gave the Pirates a 3-0 lead. "Its fun to watch him," Hurdle said. "Hes got skills and he pays attention. The league has adjusted to him to some degree already and now hes starting to fire back a little bit." Paul Goldschmidt went 3 for 4 with a run for the Diamondbacks, who have lost three straight. Last-place Arizona had three errors. "We made some mistakes tonight, and it came back to haunt us," Goldschmidt said. "Thats uncharacteristic of this team and these guys; we take a lot of pride on our defence. . Tonight we didnt get it done." Andrew McCutchen of the Pirates, who earlier in the day was named NL player of the month for June, did not play the field in the ninth inning. He fouled a ball off his left foot and winced in pain in the eighth, but continued his at-bat and singled. After the game, McCutchen said, "Im good to go . feel good," but would not commit to being able to start Thursdays game. Morton has worked into the sixth inning during all eight of his home starts this season and has allowed four earned runs over 33 2-3 innings in his past five starts at home. "When I got into a tight spot I made some good pitches," Morton said. "But I really didnt get ahead of guys. I think when I did get in a situation where some pitches had to be made, I made some pretty good pitches." Justin Wilson, Tony Watson and Mark Melancon each worked a scoreless inning for Pittsburgh. Run-scoring hits by Starling Marte and McCutchen in the eighth inning eliminated a save opportunity for Melancon. Russell Martin went 2 for 3 with a walk for the Pirates. Anderson (5-4) allowed 11 baserunners and did not get out of the fourth inning. "I wasnt able to establish the inside part of the plate tonight and just didnt do a good job of putting myself in good counts to be successful," Anderson said. "That games on me, for sure." NOTES: Reigning NL MVP McCutchen led the NL -- or tied for the lead -- in extra-base hits (20), home runs (8) and RBIs (25). . . A day after blowing his fourth save in 23 opportunities this season, Diamondbacks manager Kirk Gibson said Addison Reed would remain his closer. ... Pirates LHP Francisco Liriano, who has been on the DL since June 11 because of an oblique strain, threw a simulated game Wednesday. He indicated it went well but no specifics were offered about a return. ... RHP Vance Worley starts for Pittsburgh on Thursday against RHP Roberto Hernandez (3-7, 4.26). Henri Richard Canadiens Jersey . A-Rod is also disqualified from any post-season play. So at the tender age of 38, he will miss all of next season. As a result of missing the coming season, hes also out $25 million (which coincidentally is my hourly rate). Charles Hudon Jersey .com) - Intrastate rivals collide Saturday as the Texas State Bobcats hit the road to take on the eighth-ranked Texas Longhorns in a non-conference battle at Frank Erwin Center. http://www.canadienssale.com/authentic-noah-juulsen-canadiens-jersey/ . The 25-year-old Brazilian player has only made four Premier League appearances for United this season and underwent a medical test in Italy on Friday. Matthew Peca Jersey . -- Jose Bautista never worries about hitting homers during the regular season. Jesperi Kotkaniemi Jersey . Hes recovered from a scary injury and cleared to play. Mingo, who was hospitalized with a bruised lung he sustained in an Aug.PHOENIX -- Josh Reddick took some batting practice swings Sunday at the Oakland Athletics spring training camp and, the way the ball was jumping off his bat, it was hard to tell he had a troublesome wrist last season. The injury now behind him, Reddick and the Oakland Athletics avoided salary arbitration by agreeing to a $2.7 million, one-year contract Sunday. The 26-year-old outfielder had asked for $3.25 million when the sides swapped figures last month and had been offered $2 million. "Its a huge weight off my shoulders," Reddick said. "We battled with negotiations but I had all the confidence in the world that we werent going to make this a nasty court affair. They made it clear that they werent going to do that. From the get-go it was very comforting for me . happy to have that out of the way now and get back to playing ball." Reddick hit .226 with 12 homers and 56 RBIs in 114 games last year, when he went to the disabled list twice because of a sprained right wrist that required off-season surgery. He made $510,000. The As had hoped for more production. Acquired from Boston before the 2012 season, Reddick had 32 homers and 85 RBIs in his first season with Oakland, when he earned a Gold Glove. "More just piece of mind for him to get that out of the way," As manager Bob Melvin said. "You dont want to start camp with that weighing on your mind. It was going to get done, just glad it got done where both sides are happy with it and nnow he can just move on and start playing baseball.dddddddddddd" Melvin said Reddick looks a little stronger this season after putting on some additional pounds from weightlifting. Reddick regrets not taking care of his wrist earlier, when it first started to hurt. He said he should have gone on the disabled list right after the injury instead of resting it and then continuing to play. "Im not going to try to set any expectations, Im just going to try and put last year behind me," he said. "Try to get back to 2012 form." NOTES: Three of the new members of the As pitching staff threw their first bullpen sessions of spring training on Sunday, starting pitcher Scott Kazmir and relievers Jim Johnson and Luke Gregerson. . Melvin said reliever Sean Doolittle will throw a bullpen session on Monday as he returns from a minor calf injury. . OF Coco Crisp arrived at camp today ahead of veterans reporting day, which is Wednesday. . The As will donate $63,055 to the City of Phoenix on Feb. 27 before their spring training game against Milwaukee. Proceeds from the teams charity game that will benefit Kool Kids, a program that provides free swimming at select city pools for youth ages 17 and under. The As will also present Phoenix Mayor Greg Stanton with a special plaque thanking the City of Phoenix for its 33-year partnership with the club which will end after this year when the team returns to Mesa for its spring training. ' ' '