Recap: San Diego vs. Pittsburgh
Sports Network | August 12, 2010
San Diego, CA (Sports Network) – Adrian Gonzalez reached base all five times he came to the plate, finishing with four hits, two runs scored and two RBI, as San Diego jumped out to a big early lead, en route to an 8-5 victory over Pittsburgh at Petco Park.
Jerry Hairston, Jr. finished 2-for-4 with a two-run home run and Miguel Tejada contributed two hits and three runs scored. Kevin Correia (9-7) was the recipient of the run support, giving up four runs on four hits with seven strikeouts and one walk over 6 1/3 frames for the Padres, who have won three straight and continue to lead the National League West. San Diego stayed 2 1/2 games in front of San Francisco, which downed the Cubs on Wednesday.
James McDonald (1-2) took the loss after giving up four runs on seven hits with six strikeouts and one walk over 4 2/3 frames. Neil Walker finished 2-for-4 with one run scored and an RBI, Jose Tabata scored twice and Ryan Doumit drove in a pair of runs for the Pirates, losers in three consecutive games.
The Padres scored first in the fourth frame as Gonzalez singled on a bunt towards McDonald, who then threw the ball away, allowing the runner to take second base. Gonzalez moved up to third on a groundout and scored on a wild pitch.
The dam broke in a big way for the Padres over the next two innings, as the home team tacked on three-spots in each frame. Hairston started a two-out rally with a single to right then Tejada singled. Gonzalez slapped a run- scoring base hit to center and Ryan Ludwick followed with a run-scoring two- bagger over the head of Andrew McCutchen in center. Two successive walks forced in Gonzalez for a 4-0 advantage.
In the sixth, Chris Denorfia doubled and moved to third on Correia’s sacrifice bunt. Hairston then belted a two-run shot to left. Tejada kept the hit parade going with a single to center and Gonzalez knocked him in with a double past McCutchen in center for a seven-run edge.
Pittsburgh put a four-spot on the scoreboard and chased Correia in the seventh. Tabata singled with one out and moved up one base on Walker’s base hit. Garrett Jones followed with a solid single to left, and Pedro Alvarez drew a walk to force in a run and end the starting hurler’s night.
Doumit greeted Ernesto Frieri with a two-run double to center and Chris Snyder’s RBI groundout made it a 7-4 game.
The Pirates added another run with the aid of Ludwick’s shoddy defense. He dropped a fly ball tight to the right-field line off the bat of Tabata then Walker fisted a run-scoring single to center. Chase Headley thwarted further damage by climbing the ladder to spear a Jones liner to end the eighth frame.
San Diego closed out the scoring in the home eighth as Headley’s grounder to Walker at second was fielded cleanly, but Tejada just ducked under the tag on the second baseman’s throw to the plate.
Correia has won four of his last five starts. The right-hander gave up three runs — two earned — in six innings to lead the Padres over Pittsburgh back on June 23…The Padres have won eight straight in the series, two off their longest winning streak in the series bridging the 1995 and 1996 seasons…Heath Bell picked up his 33rd save of the season and 20th straight since May 29.
Loading comments...