NL Notebook | Andrew McCutchen homers three times in Pittsburgh victory

PITTSBURGH — Andrew McCutchen just shrugged, claiming "every baseball player just has one of those days." But only nine other players in the 122-year history of the Pittsburgh Pirates have had the kind of day this rookie did.

McCutchen homered three times and had a career-high six runs batted in as the Pirates beat the Washington Nationals 11-6 Saturday night.

The 22-year-old leadoff hitter doubled his career home-run total in one night.

"It's just a day I know I won't forget. A day I know I'll remember," he said.

McCutchen hit three shots to left field — one just inside the foul pole to lead off the first, one with a man aboard in the fourth, and another with two on in the sixth.

His third home run drew the first curtain call of the season at PNC Park, where only one player, Houston's Vinny Castilla in 2001, had hit three homers in a game.

With a chance at a record-tying fourth homer, McCutchen grounded into a double play in the eighth.

"I was definitely thinking about it, but I was not going up to bat saying, 'I'm going to hit a home run,' " said McCutchen, 2005 first-round draft pick who made his major-league debut June 4.

McCutchen became the first Pirates player to connect three times in a game since Aramis Ramirez in 2001. Darnell Coles was the last Pirate to do it at home, in 1987.

Hall of Famers Ralph Kiner and Willie Stargell each hit three homers in a game four times for Pittsburgh. Roberto Clemente is the only other player in team history to do it twice.

Notes

• Cincinnati RHP Edinson Volquez, a key player in the trade that sent OF Josh Hamilton to Texas last year, will have elbow surgery Monday. Volquez made only nine starts this season.

• OF Carlos Beltran, one of 10 Mets on the disabled list, took batting practice with the team and hopes to return in two weeks. OF Gary Sheffield is set to come off the DL today.

• 2B Freddy Sanchez could make his first start for San Francisco today after being acquired in a trade from Pittsburgh.

• 1B Adam LaRoche arrived in Atlanta in time to start for the Braves after his flight from Boston was delayed by a bomb scare. He went 2 for 3 against the Dodgers.

• 3B Scott Rolen went 0 for 4 in his first game with Cincinnati after being acquired in a trade with Toronto.