PITTSBURGH -- Gregory Polanco made manager Clint Hurdles decision to move him into the cleanup spot for the first time in his career look like a good one.Polanco hit a tiebreaking three-run homer and Chad Kuhl pitched six innings for the win after being called up from the minor leagues as the Pirates defeated the San Diego Padres 6-4 on Tuesday night.Hurdle batted the third-year right fielder fourth for the first time in his career and Polancos three-run blast deep into the seats in right-center off Luis Perdomo was his 16th homer, put the Pirates ahead 5-2 and keyed a four-run sixth inning that included Francisco Cervellis RBI double.Hes been our most efficient guy with RBI percentage, Hurdle said. I like Polanco in the four to try something different. Our offense wasnt producing like I feel were capable of producing.Polanco said his approach did not change with hitting cleanup.As always, when you have two strikes, if you see a pitch close to the plate, you have to swing, Polanco said. He left it right there, and I put a good swing on it.Kuhl (2-0) allowed two runs and five hits while striking out four and walking four. He made four starts with the Pirates earlier this season and was 6-3 with a 2.37 ERA in 16 starts for Indianapolis.David Freese had three hits and scored three runs and Josh Harrison added two hits for the Pirates, who improved to 4-6 in a 12-game stretch against teams who are at least 10 games under .500.Pittsburgh remained three games out of the second NL wild card.Tony Watson pitched a scoreless ninth for his third save.Perdomo (5-6) was tagged for six runs -- five earned -- in five innings. The rookie walked three and struck out three as his ERA rose to 6.80.Padres manager Andy Green felt Perdomo made a mistake on the home run ball to Polanco by trying to challenge him up and in with a fastball.Hes not ready to make that pitch in that situation yet because its going to come back over the plate and it did, Green said. Luis is a power sinker guy right now and thats the pitch he needed to throw. Its all part of the learning process.Rookie Jabari Blash had two hits and two RBI, including a solo home run off Watson in the ninth, for the Padres. Wil Myers hit his team-leading 22nd homer, a solo shot off Antonio Bastardo in the eighth inning, and Yangervis Solarte had two hits.After a 36-minute rain delay, Kuhl gave up both runs in the first inning when Alex Dickerson hit an RBI double and scored on Blashs single.The Pirates tied it 2-2 as Sean Rodriguez hit a run-scoring groundout in the second inning and he added an RBI single in the fourth.I kind of calmed down after the first inning, Kuhl said. I was able to just execute pitches. The first, I felt a little gassed, a little weird. But I started to calm down and get more into a rhythm.TRAINERS ROOMPirates: RHP Tyler Glasnow (right shoulder discomfort) will make a rehab start Sunday for Double-A Altoona after pitching a three-inning simulated game Tuesday afternoon, the first time he faced hitters since going on the DL on July 24. . Polanco returned to the starting lineup after being limited to pinch-hitting during the previous four games because of left shoulder discomfort. ... Freese started after sitting out Sundays loss to Cincinnati with left elbow discomfort.ROSTER MOVEThe Pirates optioned RHP Curtis Partch to Indianapolis to make room for Kuhl. Partch allowed three runs in 2/3 of an inning in two games.ROTATION NEWSGreen is considering giving LHP Clayton Richard a spot start Sunday against the Mets at New York as San Diego is in the midst of playing on 16 consecutive days. Richard pitched a scoreless inning Tuesday.WHATS NEXTPadres: RHP Edwin Jackson (2-2, 5.00 ERA) is scheduled to start Wednesday night in the second game of the three-game series after pitching a season-high eight innings to beat Milwaukee last Wednesday. He has a 9-3 career record against the Pirates.Pirates: RHP Ryan Vogelsong (1-1, 3.25) makes his second start since being out from May 24-Aug. 3 with facial fractures sustained when hit by a pitch. He held Atlanta to one run in six innings in a no-decision last Thursday. Tom Rathman Super Bowl Jersey . The (11-11-4) Jets are seventh in the Central Division with 26 points. Fifth place Dallas and sixth-seeded Nashville also have 26 points, but the Stars have three games in hand on Winnipeg while Nashville has two. Laken Tomlinson Super Bowl Jersey . -- Al Jefferson found a groove just in time for the Charlotte Bobcats. http://www.49ersofficialfanshop.com/ahkello-witherspoon-jersey-sales.html . Already owning gold from competition in Vancouver in 2010, Loch posted a combined four-run time of 3:27.526. That included a track-record third run of 51. Mike Person Super Bowl Jersey . 10 VCU 85-67 on Thursday night at the Puerto Rico Tip-Off. The Seminoles (4-0) have scored at least 80 points in each of their games. Jimmy Garoppolo Super Bowl Jersey .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. NEW YORK -- The Mets hoped five straight days of having a designated hitter available in American League ballparks would allow Yoenis Cespedes to play through a right quadriceps injury.Cespedes instead landed on the disabled list Wednesday after the opening game of that stretch, dealing the Mets another serious blow in their quest to return to the postseason.The last at-bat, the second swing, I felt it, Cespedes said through an interpreter after Wednesdays 9-5 loss to the Yankees. Its been frustrating, because Ive lost my timing. Ive lost games. And I havent been able to contribute to the ballclub.Cespedes had been out of the starting lineup the previous three games. The injury dates to early July and forced Cespedes to skip the All-Star Game.The Mets will promote outfielder Brandon Nimmo from Triple-A Las Vegas to fill Cespedes roster spot.Nimmo had just been demoted Tuesday when Jay Bruce joined the club after being acquired from the Cincinnati Reds. Wednesday marked the debut of Cespedes and Bruce in the lineup together, batting third and fourth.I think the best option is just rest, about 10 days or so, because if I continue playing hurt, Im never going to recover, Cespedes said. [Manager] Terry [Collins] spoke with me after my last at-bat, and I told him my feelings. And after that he touched base with [general manager] Sandy [Alderson].Earlier in the day, Cespedes had been golfing, despite his recent absence from the lineup. Former major leaguer Kevin Millar tweeted a photo with Cespedes afteer a round of golf.dddddddddddd.Collins had said before the game that he had no problem with Cespedes golfing.Was he running on the course or was he walking? Did he ride a cart or was he jogging? Collins asked. I dont have any problem with it.Cespedes raised eyebrows during the National League Championship Series when he golfed in suburban Chicago on the morning of Game 4. Cespedes then departed that game with a shoulder injury. Cespedes subsequently explained that golfing relaxes him and he regularly plays during the season.In other injury news, first baseman Lucas Duda, who landed on the DL on May 23 with a stress fracture in his lower back, had a setback last week when discomfort flared up.Los Angeles-based specialist Robert Watkins recommended 30 days of rest, which probably ends Dudas season, according to Alderson. Watkins does not believe surgery ultimately will be necessary, Alderson added.Duda could be a non-tender candidate in December. He is making $6.725 million this season and is eligible for arbitration one final time this winter. Alderson suggested it is possible one of the Mets outfielders, presumably Michael Conforto or Bruce, might be asked to get acclimated to first base during the offseason.Right-hander Zack Wheeler will begin a rehab assignment on Saturday with Class A St. Lucie. Wheeler is returning from Tommy John surgery, performed in March 2015. ' ' '